The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted 6,035 parcels of cannabis suspected to be Ghana Loud/Indica and other prohibited items with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.574 billion.
The seizures were disclosed on Thursday, August 13, 2026, by the Acting Customs Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, during a press briefing and handover ceremony at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State.
The seized items, intercepted as part of the command’s sustained anti-smuggling operations, included 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, 30 bags of foreign sugar, 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in kegs, 1,750 litres of PMS in drums and 30 25-litre kegs of diesel.
Others were 100 bags of fertiliser, 67 bales of second-hand clothing, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 3,760 pieces of new tops, 85 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 and 127 new purses.
Afeni said the seizures demonstrated the command’s determination to frustrate smugglers and protect Nigeria’s economy, public health and national security.
He said the command had intensified its operations through intelligence gathering, technology and enhanced enforcement measures, warning smugglers that the Ogun I Command would remain hostile to illicit trade.
According to him, the smuggling of foreign rice and other prohibited goods undermines local agriculture, manufacturing and job creation, while depriving the country of the benefits of its investments in domestic production.
“Smuggling is an economic sabotage that robs our children of a secure future. No nation can grow when its borders are treated as gateways for criminality,” he said.
The Acting Controller also raised concern over the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking networks, noting that smugglers had adopted concealment methods to move illicit drugs across the nation’s borders.
“Our agencies are fully coordinated, and we will prosecute anyone involved in the importation these illegal substances to the fullest extent of the law, ” he warned.
He said the 6,035 parcels of seized cannabis were being formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Afeni disclosed that from January 2026 to date, the Ogun I Command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw cannabis sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command.
He stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking, noting that no single security or enforcement agency could effectively secure the country alone.
Beyond its anti-smuggling operations, the command recorded N90.066 million in revenue from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, PMS and other charges in July 2026.
On export activities, Afeni said the command recorded an export volume of 10,110 metric tonnes with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N2.594 billion.
He said the major commodities driving the export figures included white talc, crushed thermal coal and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
The Customs chief appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and residents along the border communities to support the command by providing credible information on suspicious activities.
He also urged Nigerians to patronise locally produced goods, particularly rice and other agricultural products, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic production, create jobs and achieve food security.
He commended officers of the Ogun I Command for their dedication and frontline efforts, while appreciating the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and support for the command’s operations.
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