The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command has intensified its anti-smuggling operations, seizing a total of 161 smuggled items between January and March 2025, including arms, ammunition, and large quantities of Cannabis Sativa.
Speaking at a press briefing in Idiroko on Tuesday, 15 April 2025, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Muhammad Shuaibu, revealed that the seizures with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N314,057,716, were made at different locations such as Abeokuta, Ilaro, and the Ipokia/Idiroko axis among others.
“These successes could be ascribed to our intensive intelligence based operations which has aided our relentless anti-smuggling campaign and improved our seizure profile”, he stated.
Details of the seizure include; three single barrel long guns, four packs of 25 cartridges, 150 sacks of raw Cannabis Sativa, 10 cartons of Amoxicillin capsules, 7,242 bags of foreign parboiled rice, and four used vehicles.
Others are; 20 bags each of imported sugar and flour, 59 bags of POP cement, 22 vehicles, sacks of cowries, 12 cartons of Ghana soap, 843 used tyres, and 535 kegs of 25-litre PMS.
In addition to its enforcement drive, the Command generated ₦43,412,794 in revenue through import duties and auction sales under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), surpassing its 2024 Q1 figure by ₦7.6 million.
Comptroller Shuaibu reiterated the Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade and contributing to economic development.
On Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Area Controller highlighted the recently launched “Customs Cares” initiative, which he said is fostering meaningful development within host communities.
“Recently, we had the ‘Festival of Art’ for Economic Development themed ‘Cross-Border Trade: What It Is and Why It Matters’, we used the opportunity to engage students, artisans, and stakeholders on the dangers of smuggling and the importance of lawful trade.”
The seized cannabis and were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The NDLEA Commander, Idiroko special command, Segun Adeyeye commended the synergy between Customs and other security agencies. He called for greater collaboration among all stakeholders, stating that the fight against drug abuse and illegal trafficking is a shared responsibility.
