The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted smuggled goods with a total duty-paid value of N3.57 billion.
The command also vowed to make border routes across Ogun State increasingly difficult for smugglers and drug traffickers to operate.
The Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko.
Afeni said the seizures were recorded during intensified anti-smuggling operations conducted from June 24, 2026, to date, as part of efforts to protect local industries and safeguard national security.
Items intercepted by the command included 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, 30 bags of foreign sugar weighing 50kg each, 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in kegs, 1,750 litres in drums, 30 kegs of diesel, 100 bags of fertiliser and 67 bales of second-hand clothing.
Other seized items comprised 47 cartons of cosmetics, 36 packages of hair accessories, 2,674 pieces of new trousers and shorts, 3,760 pieces of new tops, 480 cartons of drinks, 53 packages of oats, 85 fire extinguishers, 127 new purses and three packages of surgical shoes.
Afeni described smuggling as “economic sabotage,” saying the illegal trade was undermining local businesses, destroying jobs and posing a threat to food security.
He particularly raised concerns over smuggled foreign rice, warning that such products could pose health risks because they may be repackaged under unhygienic conditions or stored beyond their safe consumption period.
He said, “When foreign rice is smuggled into our markets, it undermines our local farmers. Government and local entrepreneurs have invested billions to achieve self-sufficiency. Unimpeded smuggling forces local mills to close and leaves our farmers bankrupt.
“Agriculture is one of our largest employers of youth. By buying smuggled foreign grain, we export jobs to other countries while worsening unemployment at home.”
The Customs official also handed over the seized narcotics to the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command.
Afeni stressed that illicit drugs have been associated with acute psychosis, addiction and violent crime, adding that proceeds from drug trafficking can also finance arms and human trafficking.
He disclosed that between January and August 2026, the command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw cannabis sativa to the NDLEA.
On revenue generation, Afeni said the command generated more than N90 million in July 2026 through baggage assessments, auctions and other charges.
He added that the command recorded 10,110 metric tonnes in exports, with a Free On Board value of N2.59 billion. The exports were driven by commodities including white talc, crushed thermal coal and compressed natural gas (CNG).
Issuing a warning to smuggling syndicates, Afeni said, “If you do not trade legitimately, we will seize your goods, impound your vehicles, and send you to prison.”
He also appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and residents of border communities to work with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities.
Receiving the seized narcotics, the Deputy Commandant of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Area Command, Wole Fagbohun, said the handover demonstrated the importance of collaboration among security agencies in tackling illicit drug trafficking and abuse, particularly in border communities.
Fagbohun assured that the seized substances would be properly documented, investigated and handled in line with established procedures.
BACKSTORY:
The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has intensified its anti-smuggling operations across the state’s border corridors as part of efforts to protect local industries, boost national revenue and strengthen security.
The latest operation resulted in the interception of smuggled goods with a duty-paid value of N3.57 billion, including foreign rice, petroleum products, clothing, cosmetics, fertiliser and other prohibited or restricted items.
The command also seized large quantities of suspected illicit drugs and handed them over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and processing.
Customs authorities have continued to describe smuggling as a major threat to Nigeria’s economy, arguing that the practice undermines local manufacturers and farmers while contributing to unemployment and revenue losses.
The Ogun I Area Command has consequently warned smugglers and their syndicates that security agencies will continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement along the state’s border routes.
The command also urged residents, traditional rulers and community leaders in border areas to cooperate with security agencies by providing information on suspicious movements and smuggling activities.
