The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its crackdown on smuggling, recording major seizures worth over N4.6 billion while significantly boosting government revenue in the second quarter of 2026.
Addressing journalists at Idiroko on Wednesday, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the command’s operations between April 1 and June 23 reflected a renewed commitment to border security, trade facilitation and economic protection.
Afeni disclosed that the command generated N259.3 million from baggage assessments, auction sales of perishable items, petroleum products and other statutory charges during the review period.
The figure represents a sharp increase from the N76.8 million collected during the corresponding period in 2025, translating to a revenue growth of 238 percent.
According to him, the improvement was driven by stricter compliance enforcement, enhanced monitoring of import and export activities, and greater adherence by traders to established customs regulations.
Beyond revenue generation, the command intensified anti-smuggling operations across key border corridors in Ogun State, leading to the interception of prohibited goods and dangerous substances capable of harming lives and undermining the economy.
In total, Customs recorded 146 seizures during the period, including foreign parboiled rice, cannabis, petroleum products, footwear, second-hand clothing, used tyres, pharmaceuticals and other contraband items.
One of the most notable interceptions occurred on June 3 when Customs operatives stopped a truck disguised with a “For Sale” inscription along the Ijebu-Ode axis. A detailed inspection revealed 2,427 smuggled pneumatic tyres hidden inside the vehicle.
Afeni noted that the seizure was particularly important because the influx of substandard and used tyres poses serious risks to motorists, often contributing to road accidents, tyre blowouts and avoidable fatalities on Nigerian highways.
Another major operation was carried out on June 16 along the Itori-Wasimi-Abeokuta route, where officers intercepted a truck loaded with 113 bags of foreign rice concealed beneath bags of cement.
The driver reportedly ignored orders to stop and allegedly attempted to endanger officers by driving aggressively before he was eventually apprehended. Investigations are ongoing ahead of prosecution.
In a separate operation, Customs intercepted another truck carrying 630 bags of foreign rice along the Afamin-Igbogila axis, reinforcing concerns over the continued smuggling of food products through illegal border routes.
Afeni warned that unchecked importation of foreign rice and other prohibited goods threatens local industries, discourages domestic investment and weakens efforts to create jobs for thousands of young Nigerians.
The command’s seizure profile also included 2,807 bags of foreign rice, 9,482 parcels of cannabis sativa, 62 sacks of raw marijuana, 16,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 475 litres of diesel, 7,642 pairs of footwear, 63 sacks of sugar and 73 bales of used clothing.
Other items intercepted were imported flour, frozen products, fertiliser, a used vehicle and tramadol tablets, all brought into the country in violation of extant laws and border regulations.
The cumulative Duty Paid Value of the seized goods stood at N4.63 billion, underscoring the scale of economic sabotage Customs officers are confronting daily along the border.
On export trade, the command recorded a significant turnaround, facilitating the movement of 20,972 metric tonnes of export commodities with a Free on Board value exceeding N1.04 billion. Exported products included white talc, crushed thermal coal and compressed natural gas products.
Afeni described the development as a positive signal for non-oil exports and cross-border trade, especially as the command recorded no export activity during the same period in 2025.
The controller also highlighted the importance of coordinated border security operations involving Customs, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and their counterparts in the Republic of Benin.
As part of ongoing inter-agency collaboration, the command handed over 6,981 parcels of cannabis and 62 sacks of raw marijuana to the NDLEA, while consignments of Analgin injections and tramadol tablets were transferred to NAFDAC for further investigation and regulatory action.
Afeni stressed that behind every seizure lies a larger public interest. He noted that the fight against smuggling is not merely about confiscating goods but about protecting legitimate businesses, safeguarding public health, preserving jobs, reducing criminal activities and ensuring that Nigeria’s borders do not become channels for dangerous products capable of endangering communities.
He therefore called on border residents, traders and stakeholders to support Customs through intelligence sharing and compliance with trade regulations, describing collective vigilance as essential to national economic growth and security.