The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara State has generated over ₦2.5 billion revenue in two months.

It has also seized banned items that included foreign parboiled rice, second-hand clothing and used tyres among others.

The Acting Customs controller, Deputy comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin, noting that the exercise, “reflect our sustained commitment to supporting government’s fiscal objectives while ensuring compliance within the excise sector.”

Ogundeyi hinted that the command also displayed several seizures to newsmen, listing them to include: Five second-hand vehicles, popularly called Tokunbo vehicles, intercepted at Alapa Patrol Base and Bode Saadu axis.

According to him, 60 sacks of second-hand clothing, six jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, and two bales of second-hand clothing, 222 units of used compressors and 15 used tyres were also intercepted at Eiyenkorin area of the state.

“44 bags of 50kg imported sugar, intercepted at Bukuro and Bode Saadu axis; 317 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were intercepted at various Patrol Base, suspected to be intended for illegal cross-border smuggling.

“1,107 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, intercepted at various Patrol Bases; 120 sacks of illegally mined lithium ore, intercepted at Alapa/Banni area of Kwara State.

“Nine vehicles loaded with foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each were seized during coordinated anti-smuggling operations within the Command’s operational corridors,” he stressed.

He, however, put the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizures at ₦478,171,315.00, “underscoring the magnitude of the attempted economic sabotage and the level of vigilance exercised by officers of the Command,” he said.

The Customs boss said: “these interceptions underscore our unwavering commitment to intelligence-led enforcement operations. They are justified by the urgent need to curb economic sabotage, protect legitimate businesses, safeguard national revenue, and ensure compliance with extant laws governing cross-border trade.

“These seizures are a clear demonstration of our renewed operational strategy, which is anchored on intelligence gathering, coordinated patrols, and strategic deployment of personnel across identified smuggling corridors,” he said.

He commended the media support and the cooperations of sister security agencies, saying: “the successes we are presenting today are the result of strong inter-agency collaboration, coordinated intelligence gathering, and effective information sharing. This synergy remains critical in addressing the complex and evolving challenges posed by trans-border crimes.”

On the issue of revenue generation, he noted that Excise activities remained the only source of revenue collection within the Kwara Area Command.

He recalled that he had two months ago, warned against smuggling activities “I also assured the public that the Command would remain resolute and uncompromising in enforcing this stance in line with the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“Regrettably, despite these warnings, some criminal elements have continued to engage in acts of economic sabotage.

“These individuals, driven by illicit profit, have tested the resolve of the Command through persistent attempts to smuggle prohibited and restricted items into the country.

“However, I wish to state unequivocally that such unlawful activities have consistently been met with firm, decisive, and intelligence-driven enforcement actions by our officers.

“While the Command remains fully committed to enforcing anti-smuggling laws, we equally place strong emphasis on initiatives that promote legitimate trade, economic development, and national prosperity.