The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted contraband goods with a cumulative duty-paid value exceeding N6.77 billion in 41 days, including over 10,000 parcels of cannabis indica with an estimated street value exceeding N5 billion, in what officials described as a sustained intelligence-driven enforcement push against smuggling networks operating across the state.
Acting Customs Area Controller Olukayode Afeni, briefing journalists at Idiroko, said the 73 seizures made during the period included 1,759 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 10,126 parcels of cannabis indica weighing approximately 4,627 kilograms, 26 sacks of raw cannabis sativa, 2,685 kegs of vegetable oil, 14,550 litres of petrol in jerricans, 46 bags of foreign sugar, 66 bales of second-hand clothing, 205 packs of footwear, 77 cartons of unregistered Analgin injections, and 50 cartons of expired seasoning cubes.
He disclosed that six live pangolins were also intercepted and handed over to the relevant wildlife agency, and that the command had separately handed over 2,543 parcels of cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at Idiroko in March.
Afeni said the command had removed 26,002 parcels of cannabis from circulation since January, describing the sustained seizures as a preventive measure against drug-related crises capable of overwhelming healthcare and rehabilitation systems. He warned that the growing cannabis trade was directly linked to armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, terrorism, and banditry.
He highlighted two major interceptions along the Sagamu-Ogere axis in May, including a truck loaded with 2,185 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil on May 5, and a Volvo truck carrying unregistered pharmaceutical products, expired food, rice, vegetable oil, footwear, and used clothes on May 7. The command generated N125.43 million through baggage assessment and auction of seized petroleum products during the review period and facilitated legitimate exports of 95 metric tons valued at over N1 billion.
