…Food imports, drugs, fuel seized in intensified anti-smuggling drive
…Controller warns smugglers, reaffirms zero tolerance
The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contraband goods with a total Duty Paid Value of more than N2 billion in a series of intelligence-driven operations across Ogun State.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Wednesday during his maiden press briefing at Idiroko, barely two weeks after assuming office on 4 December 2025.
Afeni said the seizures were the outcome of intensified surveillance, strategic intelligence deployment and strengthened collaboration with sister security agencies and border communities, in line with the core mandates of the NCS.
Among the major interceptions were prohibited food items, including 4,998 cartons of Doga brand spaghetti and 419 cartons of Oba brand spaghetti, both weighing 10kg each and illegally imported from Turkey. The items were intercepted on 12 December 2025 in an Iveco truck.
He said another operation on 13 December 2025 led to the interception of a DAF truck conveying 2,200 kegs of 25-litre vegetable oil of Indonesian origin, also prohibited for importation into Nigeria.
According to him, the combined Duty Paid Value of the seized food items stood at N291.26 million, while the trucks used for conveyance were valued at about N222 million and are liable to forfeiture under existing laws.
Afeni warned that smuggled food items posed serious health risks, as they often bypass mandatory quality and safety checks, exposing unsuspecting consumers to substandard products.
The Customs boss also expressed concern over the seizure of narcotics, describing it as a major threat to public health and national security.
Items intercepted included 12kg of crystal meth, 16kg of heroin, and 3,373 wraps of cannabis sativa weighing about 1,502kg. He said the cannabis seizures were made in six separate intelligence-led operations between 4 and 15 December 2025.
Other seized items included 6,750 litres of premium motor spirit, 4,738 bags of foreign parboiled rice, two foreign-used vehicles, 309 bundles of used pneumatic tyres and eight means of conveyance.
Afeni said the seizures were made across several flashpoints in Ogun State, including Idiroko, Ipokia, Imeko, Abeokuta, Lusada, Ado-Odo, Igbo-Ora and Owode axes.
He said the total Duty Paid Value of all seizures amounted to N2,006,008,898, describing it as a reflection of the command’s strengthened enforcement posture and zero-tolerance stance against economic sabotage.
On revenue generation, Afeni said the command recorded N27.29 million as of 16 December 2025, attributing the figure to the diligence of officers and cooperation from compliant traders.
As part of inter-agency collaboration, he said the seized cannabis sativa would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Idiroko Special Command, for further action.
Afeni commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for what he described as dynamic leadership and institutional support, and praised officers of the Ogun I Area Command for their commitment.
He also acknowledged the support of sister agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and local informants, noting that security remained a collective responsibility.
The Customs Area Controller warned smugglers and their collaborators to steer clear of Ogun I Command, saying the service would remain vigilant in protecting Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
