The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted 43 consignments of smuggled goods valued at ₦3.15 billion within 15 days, as part of intensified efforts to combat smuggling, protect public health and strengthen border security.
The seizures, recorded under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, included foreign rice, prohibited pasta, unregistered pharmaceutical products, cannabis, foreign used vehicles, second hand clothing and other contraband.
Ibrahim disclosed this on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during his maiden press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State, where he reaffirmed the service’s commitment to suppressing smuggling and enforcing compliance with extant trade regulations.
He said the command had strengthened intelligence gathering, surveillance and collaboration with sister security agencies and community stakeholders since he assumed office on September 29, 2026.
According to him, the operations had yielded 43 seizures within 15 days, demonstrating the command’s determination to deny smugglers access to Nigeria’s markets and border communities.
One of the major interceptions occurred on October 2, when Customs officers, acting on intelligence, intercepted three trucks suspected of conveying prohibited foreign goods.
Following their transportation to the command’s headquarters for physical examination under Section 227 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the first truck, a Sino Howo with registration number MSW-232-XA, was found to contain 2,740 cartons of foreign Siddo pasta concealed with 500 cartons of Oki condensed milk.
The second Howo truck, with registration number TFA-674-XA, contained 6,000 cartons of foreign Ginny pasta, while the third, an Iveco Elco truck with registration number KMC-702-ZR, was conveying 6,500 cartons of foreign Doga pasta.
Ibrahim said another interception occurred on October 4 along the Afamin Dangote-Itori axis of Ogun State, where officers intercepted a Dangote truck with registration number FZE-552-DA conveying 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice concealed beneath mica and gypsum stones.
On October 11, the command intercepted a 10-tyre truck with registration number AKL-456-XL. A physical examination revealed 321 army camouflage face caps and 27,831 assorted pharmaceutical products, including codeine cough syrup, injections, eye drops and supplements without National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control registration numbers.
The controller warned that the importation and circulation of unregistered medicines posed serious risks to public health, while the unauthorised movement of military camouflage items raised security concerns.
Other seized items included 4,013 units of cannabis sativa, one wrap of Canadian Loud, 950 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 660 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, four bundles of used pneumatic tyres, 106 bales of second hand clothing, 1,320 pairs of new smuggled shoes, 3,700 pairs of used shoes, 252 imported face caps and 1,250 foreign used bags.
The command also seized 13 foreign used vehicles, including Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota Venza, Lexus LX600, Lexus ES350, Toyota Camry XLE, Toyota Avensis Verso, Peugeot 406, Ford Galaxy and Nissan Almera models.
Ibrahim put the total duty paid value of the seizures at ₦3,153,591,000, describing the recoveries as evidence of the command’s determination to frustrate economic sabotage and protect local industries. He added that five trucks involved in the major interceptions, valued at ₦1.235 billion, would be forfeited to the Federal Government in accordance with Section 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
He said the command would formally hand over the seized cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s Idiroko Special Command for further investigation and necessary action, while commending the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and support. He also praised Customs personnel, sister security agencies, traditional institutions, youths and the media for their contributions to the fight against smuggling.
The controller warned smugglers and their collaborators to stay away from the command’s area of responsibility, pledging to sustain intelligence led operations and inter agency cooperation to protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
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