The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized contraband with a total Duty Paid Value of ₦3.153 billion in 15 days as part of efforts to combat smuggling, protect public health and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, disclosed this during his maiden press briefing in Idiroko, Ogun State.
Ibrahim explained that the command recorded 43 seizures since he assumed office on 29 September 2026, including foreign rice, prohibited goods, unregistered medicines, cannabis and smuggled vehicles.
He said three trucks intercepted on 2 October contained 2,740 cartons of foreign Siddo pasta concealed with 500 cartons of Oki condensed milk, 6,000 packs of foreign Ginny pasta and 6,500 packs of foreign Doga pasta.
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Ibrahim added that another truck intercepted along the Afamin–Dangote–Itori axis on 4 October was conveying 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice concealed beneath mica and gypsum stones.
He noted that officers intercepted another truck on 11 October carrying 321 military camouflage face caps and 27,831 assorted unregistered medicines, including codeine cough syrup, injections, eye drops and supplements without registration numbers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The Deputy Comptroller disclosed that the five trucks involved in the major interceptions had an estimated value of ₦1.235 billion and would be forfeited to the Nigerian Government in line with Section 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Other seizures included 4,013 cannabis consignments, one wrap of Canadian loud, 950 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 660 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 106 bales of second-hand clothing, 1,320 pairs of smuggled new shoes, 3,700 used shoes, foreign-used bags, tyres, face caps and 13 foreign-used vehicles.
Ibrahim expressed concern over the trafficking of cannabis and unregistered medicines, warning that such items threatened public health, particularly among young people, as well as national security.
He stressed that the command had intensified intelligence gathering, border surveillance and collaboration with security agencies and community stakeholders to disrupt smuggling networks and protect legitimate businesses.
As part of the inter-agency collaboration, Ibrahim revealed that the command had handed over the seized cannabis to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and necessary action.
The Deputy Comptroller commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and support, while acknowledging the contributions of officers, sister security agencies, traditional institutions, community stakeholders and the media.
He warned smugglers and their collaborators to desist from illegal activities, assuring that the command would sustain enforcement operations to protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
