By Peace Udugba- The Daily Torch Media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica cannabis and other prohibited items with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3,574,435,248.08.
The seizures were disclosed on Thursday, August 13, 2026, by the Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller OO Afenifere, during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters.
The briefing also featured the formal handover of seized narcotic substances to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Afenifere said the command had intensified its anti-smuggling operations through intelligence gathering, technology-driven enforcement and increased collaboration with sister security agencies.
According to him, the sustained crackdown is aimed not only at preventing illegal imports but also at protecting local industries, farmers, jobs and Nigeria’s economic interests.
He warned smugglers against using the Ogun border corridors as transit routes for prohibited goods, stressing that the command would continue to seize contraband, impound vehicles and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law.
Items Seized
The items paraded by the command include:
2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice
70 cartons of basmati rice
6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica
30 bags of foreign sugar, 50kg each
2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers
11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in kegs
1,750 litres of PMS in drums30 kegs of diesel, 25 litres each
100 bags of fertilizer,
67 bales of second-hand clothing,
3,760 pieces of new tops,
85 pieces of 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,
127 pieces of new purses.
The command put the total Duty Paid Value of the seized items at N3,574,435,248.08.
Customs Hands Over Narcotics to NDLEA
Afenifere said the interception of illicit drugs underscored the importance of collaboration among security agencies in tackling drug trafficking and other forms of cross-border criminality.
He formally handed over the seized narcotic substances to the Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command for further investigation.
The Acting Controller said that from January 2026 to date, the Ogun I Area Command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command.
He described the trafficking of cannabis and other illicit substances as a serious threat to public health, community safety and national security.
July Revenue Collection
The command also recorded revenue from various activities in July 2026.
According to Afenifere, the Ogun I Area Command generated N90,066,164.00 during the month through baggage assessments, auctions of perishable items, PMS and other charges.
On export activities, he said the command recorded an export volume of 10,110 metric tonnes, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N2,594,078,654.
He identified white talc, crushed thermal coal and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as some of the major drivers of the command’s export performance.
Customs Appeals for Public Support
Afenifere appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and other residents along the border communities to support the fight against smuggling by reporting suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
He also urged Nigerians to support locally produced agricultural and manufactured goods, particularly locally produced rice, saying that patronising domestic products would help create jobs, strengthen local industries and promote food security.
He called on journalists to conduct proper investigations before publishing reports on seizures and enforcement activities, stressing the need to distinguish legitimate trade from illicit activities.
The Acting Controller commended officers and personnel of the Ogun I Area Command for their dedication to the fight against smuggling.
He also acknowledged the leadership and support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, saying his administration had continued to promote operational effectiveness and professionalism across the Nigeria Customs Service.
Afenifere reaffirmed that the Ogun I Area Command would sustain its enforcement operations and make the border environment increasingly hostile to smugglers and other economic saboteurs.
