NCS Ogun I strengthens border enforcement with ₦1.35bn multi-item seizure of cannabis, fuel, pangolins, others 

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has reinforced its border enforcement drive with the interception of smuggled goods valued at ₦1,350,751,000, including cannabis sativa, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), foreign parboiled rice and endangered wildlife.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Oladapo Afeni, disclosed the development at a press conference held at the Command Headquarters in Idiroko on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Afeni said the seizures were recorded through intelligence-driven operations and sustained surveillance by officers committed to curbing smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s economic interests.

Detailing the operations, he revealed that on March 11, 2026, officers intercepted a truck with registration number APP-740-YD along the Agbara axis conveying 2,539 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil, each containing 25 litres. Preliminary investigations showed the products were smuggled through creeks in fragmented consignments before being assembled for onward transportation.

The interception followed an earlier operation on March 4, 2026, when operatives seized a Sino truck loaded with 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti weighing 10kg each — a development Afeni said highlights the persistent smuggling of staple commodities.

He recalled that the Command had earlier paraded 2,090 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil on December 16, 2025, adding that the renewed seizures demonstrate its resolve to dismantle smuggling networks and protect local producers from unfair competition.

Other items intercepted include 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice — equivalent to two trailer loads — and 545 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit totalling 13,625 litres, equivalent to a tanker load.

The Command also seized 2,547 parcels of cannabis sativa of varying sizes. Afeni confirmed that the illicit drugs were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, in line with inter-agency collaboration to combat drug trafficking.

Additional seizures include 36 cartons of syrup, eight packs of perfume oil, 13 used tyres, 50 bags of imported sugar, eight bales and 15 sacks of second-hand clothing, five sacks of used ladies’ handbags, two sacks of used footwear and two used vehicles.

Afeni further disclosed that two antiquities intercepted during operations were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments through the National Museum Abeokuta after expert appraisal, as part of efforts to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

He warned smugglers and economic saboteurs that the Command remains strategically positioned to frustrate illegal activities, stressing that officers stay ahead through intelligence gathering and strategic border monitoring.

On revenue performance, Afeni revealed that the Command generated ₦285.65 million during the review period from baggage assessments and auction sales of seized petroleum products — surpassing the ₦259.26 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

In trade facilitation, he disclosed that the Command processed 95 metric tonnes of exports with a Free On Board value of ₦305.7 million, marking a significant improvement compared to the same period last year when no export trade was recorded.

He commended traditional rulers, host communities and the media for their continued support in the fight against smuggling, while reaffirming the Command’s commitment to enforcing federal fiscal policies and promoting legitimate trade.

Afeni also expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and operational support.