Ogun Customs Intercepts N3.57bn Contraband, Hands Over 6,035 Cannabis Parcels to NDLEA

Ogun Customs Intercepts N3.57bn Contraband, Hands Over 6,035 Cannabis Parcels to NDLEA
The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted prohibited goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3,574,435,248.08, while formally handing over 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica and other narcotic substances to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday, August 13, 2026, during a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters in Idiroko.
Afeni said the briefing was organised to update the public on the Command’s intensified anti-smuggling operations and to facilitate a major inter-agency handover, which he described as a demonstration of the importance of collaboration among security and law-enforcement agencies.
Speaking on the broader implications of smuggling, the Customs boss said the menace goes beyond illegal commercial activities, stressing that it undermines Nigeria’s economy, local industries, food security and employment opportunities.
According to him, the smuggling of foreign rice, for instance, threatens local farmers and investors who have committed significant resources towards achieving food self-sufficiency.
He said, “When foreign rice is smuggled into our markets, it undermines our local farmers and agricultural investors. Our government and local entrepreneurs have invested billions to achieve self-sufficiency in food production. Unimpeded smuggling forces local mills to close and leaves our farmers bankrupt.”
Afeni further warned that patronising smuggled goods contributes to unemployment and poverty by shifting economic opportunities away from local producers.
He also raised concerns about the safety of some smuggled food products, noting that foreign rice could be re-bagged under unhygienic conditions or stored beyond safe consumption periods.
The Acting Controller said the Command was operating under the leadership and mandate of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, with increased reliance on intelligence, technology and coordinated enforcement.
He disclosed that the Command had recorded a series of seizures involving foreign parboiled rice, illicit drugs and other prohibited items, adding that smugglers were increasingly adopting sophisticated concealment methods.
Afeni said the Command’s intelligence networks had enabled officers to dismantle several smuggling operations, assuring that the Ogun I Command would continue to make the border environment increasingly difficult for smugglers.
Among the items displayed during the briefing were 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 30 bags of foreign sugar weighing 50kg each and 67 bales of second-hand clothing.
Other seized items included 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) stored in kegs, 1,750 litres of PMS in drums and 30 kegs of diesel, each containing 25 litres.
The Command also intercepted 100 bags of fertiliser, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 3,760 pieces of new tops, 85 fire extinguishers, 480 cartons of Pure Haven drinks, 53 packages of oats, 47 cartons of cosmetics, 36 packages of hair accessories, three packages of surgical shoes and 127 new purses, among other prohibited or improperly imported goods.
The major highlight of the briefing was the formal handover of the seized narcotics to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.
The narcotics included 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, a potent cannabis variety intercepted by Customs officers during their operations.
Afeni warned that the trafficking of cannabis and other illicit drugs was not a victimless crime, stressing that drug abuse and trafficking could fuel addiction, violence and other forms of criminality while exposing young Nigerians to serious social and economic consequences.
He described the fight against illicit drugs and smuggling as a collective responsibility, likening inter-agency cooperation to a “relay race” in which no single security agency could protect the country alone.
The Customs boss appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and members of the public to provide timely information on suspicious activities, stressing the importance of community participation in securing Nigeria’s borders.
He also urged Nigerians to patronise locally produced rice, cooking oil, wine and pasta as a way of supporting domestic industries, creating jobs and strengthening the nation’s food security.
Afeni commended officers and men of the Ogun I Area Command for their dedication and praised the Comptroller-General of Customs for what he described as dynamic leadership, sustained support and encouragement.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating smuggling, disrupting illicit drug trafficking and strengthening border security.
“The fight against drug smuggling is a collective responsibility. The Ogun I Command, under my leadership, remains resolute in its commitment to securing our borders and safeguarding our nation’s future,” he said.