…Hands over drugs, antiquities as revenue rises above 2025
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted smuggled goods with a duty paid value of over N1.35bn within six weeks, intensifying its crackdown on economic sabotage along the Idiroko border corridor.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Monday, 16 March 2026, during a press briefing at Idiroko, Ogun State.
Afeni said the seizures followed intelligence-driven operations and sustained enforcement efforts since his commitment on 29 January to strengthen anti-smuggling activities.
“Just six weeks ago, on January 29, 2026, I committed this Command to a relentless campaign against smuggling and economic sabotage. Today’s briefing serves as a progress report on that promise,” he said.
He explained that the command recorded significant breakthroughs, including the interception of 2,539 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil at 25 litres each along the Agbara axis on 11 March.
According to him, the products were smuggled through creeks in small quantities before being consolidated for transportation.
The Customs boss added that the command had earlier intercepted a truck conveying 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti on 4 March, describing the trend as a growing pattern in the smuggling of essential commodities.
“This series of successful interventions underscores our unwavering commitment to suppressing smuggling. By removing these illicit goods from the market, we are ensuring a competitive trade environment that protects our local vegetable oil industry and safeguards the health of our citizens,” Afeni stated.
Other seizures recorded within the period include 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 545 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit equivalent to 13,625 litres, 50 bags of imported sugar, and several bales of second-hand clothing and used items.
The command also intercepted 2,547 parcels of cannabis sativa of varying sizes, four live pangolins, two vehicles, and two antiquities.
Afeni said the confiscated drugs had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, as part of ongoing inter-agency collaboration.
“In accordance with the Comptroller General of Customs’ policy thrust, we are formally transferring custody of 2,547 intercepted parcels of Cannabis Sativa to the Commander of the NDLEA, Idiroko Special Command,” he said.
He added that the antiquities had been transferred to the National Museum in Abeokuta for preservation following expert evaluation.
The controller warned smugglers to desist from illegal activities, stressing that the command remained ahead of criminal networks through strategic intelligence and monitoring.
“To the economic saboteurs and their sponsors, there is no trick we cannot uncover,” he said.
On revenue generation, Afeni disclosed that the command realised N285,652,460 within the review period, surpassing the N259,265,495 generated during the same period in 2025.
He attributed the increase to improved enforcement, baggage assessments, and auction sales of seized petroleum products.
In addition, the command recorded 95 metric tonnes of exports with a Free on Board value of over N305m, marking a significant improvement from zero export trade recorded in the corresponding period last year.
Afeni reaffirmed the commitment of the service to sustain enforcement of government fiscal policies, promote legitimate trade, and strengthen collaboration with security agencies and host communities.
“Our war on smuggling continues. Smugglers may try new tactics to evade our checks, but they will remain unsuccessful,” he said.
