Ogun Customs Intercept ₦3.57bn Contraband, Promise Smugglers Tougher Time

Ogun Customs intercepted contraband worth ₦3.57bn between June 24 and August 13, including thousands of cannabis parcels, foreign rice and petroleum products, and warned smugglers that intensified enforcement would make illicit cross-border trade increasingly difficult.

Daniel Momodu · August 14, 2026 · 44

The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted contraband with a combined duty-paid value of ₦3.57bn in an intensified crackdown on smuggling and cross-border crime.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday while parading the seized items at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State.

The seizures were made between June 24 and August 13, 2026, and included 6,035 parcels of cannabis, 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 30 bags of foreign sugar and more than 13,000 litres of petroleum products.

Other seized items included fertiliser, second-hand clothing, new clothing, fire extinguishers, drinks, cosmetics, hair accessories, surgical shoes and purses. The total duty-paid value was put at ₦3,574,435,248.08.

Afeni said the command had strengthened its operations through intelligence gathering, technology and increased enforcement, warning smugglers that using Ogun’s border corridors to move prohibited goods would become increasingly difficult.

He particularly criticised the smuggling of foreign rice, saying it undermines Nigerian farmers, local agricultural investors and domestic rice mills while contributing to unemployment and weakening efforts towards food security.

On the seized cannabis, Afeni said Customs was working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to disrupt drug-trafficking networks. He disclosed that the command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command since January 2026.

The command also reported generating ₦90.07m in July 2026 from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, PMS and other charges. Its exports during the period amounted to 10,110 metric tonnes, with a Free On Board value of ₦2.59bn.

Afeni warned criminal syndicates that the command would continue to seize contraband, impound vehicles and prosecute offenders, while urging residents of border communities, traditional rulers and youth leaders to report suspicious activities.