The Nigeria Customs Service’s Ogun I Area Command has intercepted 43 consignments of smuggled goods with a total duty-paid value of N3.15bn in 15 days under its acting area controller, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim.

Ibrahim disclosed this yesterday during the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun state, saying the seizures resulted from intensified surveillance, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with other security agencies and community stakeholders.

He said he assumed office on 29 September and had warned smugglers and others involved in economic sabotage that the command would not tolerate illegal activities under his leadership.

“The command’s approach to tackling smuggling will remain firm, fair, and intelligence-driven,” Ibrahim said, adding that the seizures demonstrated its commitment to protecting the economy, public health and national security.

Among the major interceptions were three trucks carrying foreign-made pasta and condensed milk, seized on 2 October at about 4.30 am following an intelligence-led operation.

According to Ibrahim, an examination at the command headquarters found that a Sino Howo truck, with registration number MSW-232-XA, was carrying 2,740 cartons of foreign-made Siddo pasta concealed with 500 cartons of Oki condensed milk.

A second truck, a Howo with registration number TFA-674-XA, contained 6,000 cartons of foreign-made Ginny pasta, while an Iveco Elco truck, with registration number KMC-702-ZR, was carrying 6,500 cartons of Doga pasta.

He said the examination was conducted in accordance with section 227 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

On 4 October, at about 1.34am, officers intercepted a Dangote truck with registration number FZE-552-DA along the Afamin-Dangote-Itori axis of Ogun state. The vehicle was carrying 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice concealed among mica and gypsum stones, Ibrahim said.

Another major seizure was made on 11 October, when officers intercepted a 10-tyre truck, with registration number AKL-456-XL, carrying 321 army camouflage face caps27,831 assorted unregistered pharmaceutical products.

The medicines included codeine cough syrup, injections, eye drops, and supplements without registration numbers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac).

Ibrahim described the interception of unregistered medicines and restricted military camouflage items as a serious threat to public safety, national security, and human health.

He added that five trucks, valued at N1.235bn, would be forfeited to the federal government in accordance with section 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Other items seized during the 15-day period included 4,013 units of cannabis sativa, one wrap of Canadian loud, 950 litres of petrol, 660 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, four bundles of used pneumatic tyres and 106 bales of secondhand clothing.

Customs officers also intercepted 1,320 pairs of smuggled new shoes, 3,700 pairs of used shoes, 252 imported face caps, 1,250 foreign-used bags, and 13 foreign-used vehicles.

The vehicles included Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota Venza, Lexus LX 600, Lexus ES 350, Toyota Camry XLE, Toyota Avensis Verso, Peugeot 406, Ford Galaxy and Nissan Almera models.

Ibrahim put the total duty-paid value of all the seized items at N3,153,591,000.

As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation among security agencies, the command handed over the seized cannabis to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s Idiroko special command for further investigation and legal action.

The NDLEA special commandant in Idiroko, Akande Olasumbo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking, distribution, and other drug-related offenses.

Olasumbo said the agency was working with the customs service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other security agencies to prevent illicit drugs and prohibited goods from crossing the country’s borders.

He said investigations into the seized cannabis would continue and that the agency would pursue the necessary prosecution procedures.

The commandant also disclosed that approval had been granted for the public destruction of some seized drugs, adding that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with the law.

He said the agency was working to secure the necessary arrangements and approvals for the destruction exercise in the Idiroko area.

Olasumbo said sustained cooperation among security agencies remained essential to curbing drug trafficking and other illegal activities along Nigeria’s borders.
By Azeez Olorunlomeru, Abeokuta

The Nigeria Customs Service’s Ogun I Area Command has intercepted 43 consignments of smuggled goods with a total duty-paid value of N3.15bn in 15 days under its acting area controller, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim.

Ibrahim disclosed this yesterday during the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun state, saying the seizures resulted from intensified surveillance, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with other security agencies and community stakeholders.

He said he assumed office on 29 September and had warned smugglers and others involved in economic sabotage that the command would not tolerate illegal activities under his leadership.

“The command’s approach to tackling smuggling will remain firm, fair, and intelligence-driven,” Ibrahim said, adding that the seizures demonstrated its commitment to protecting the economy, public health and national security.

Among the major interceptions were three trucks carrying foreign-made pasta and condensed milk, seized on 2 October at about 4.30 am following an intelligence-led operation.

According to Ibrahim, an examination at the command headquarters found that a Sino Howo truck, with registration number MSW-232-XA, was carrying 2,740 cartons of foreign-made Siddo pasta concealed with 500 cartons of Oki condensed milk.

A second truck, a Howo with registration number TFA-674-XA, contained 6,000 cartons of foreign-made Ginny pasta, while an Iveco Elco truck, with registration number KMC-702-ZR, was carrying 6,500 cartons of Doga pasta.

He said the examination was conducted in accordance with section 227 of the Nigeria
Customs Service Act 2023.

On 4 October, at about 1.34am, officers intercepted a Dangote truck with registration number FZE-552-DA along the Afamin-Dangote-Itori axis of Ogun state. The vehicle was carrying 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice concealed among mica and gypsum stones, Ibrahim said.

Another major seizure was made on 11 October, when officers intercepted a 10-tyre truck, with registration number AKL-456-XL, carrying 321 army camouflage face caps27,831 assorted unregistered pharmaceutical products.

The medicines included codeine cough syrup, injections, eye drops, and supplements without registration numbers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac).

Ibrahim described the interception of unregistered medicines and restricted military camouflage items as a serious threat to public safety, national security, and human health.

He added that five trucks, valued at N1.235bn, would be forfeited to the federal government in accordance with section 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Other items seized during the 15-day period included 4,013 units of cannabis sativa, one wrap of Canadian loud, 950 litres of petrol, 660 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, four bundles of used pneumatic tyres and 106 bales of secondhand clothing.

Customs officers also intercepted 1,320 pairs of smuggled new shoes, 3,700 pairs of used shoes, 252 imported face caps, 1,250 foreign-used bags, and 13 foreign-used vehicles.

The vehicles included Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota Venza, Lexus LX 600, Lexus ES 350, Toyota Camry XLE, Toyota Avensis Verso, Peugeot 406, Ford Galaxy and Nissan Almera models.

Ibrahim put the total duty-paid value of all the seized items at N3,153,591,000.

As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation among security agencies, the command handed over the seized cannabis to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s Idiroko special command for further investigation and legal action.

The NDLEA special commandant in Idiroko, Akande Olasumbo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking, distribution, and other drug-related offenses.

Olasumbo said the agency was working with the customs service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other security agencies to prevent illicit drugs and prohibited goods from crossing the country’s borders.

He said investigations into the seized cannabis would continue and that the agency would pursue the necessary prosecution procedures.

The commandant also disclosed that approval had been granted for the public destruction of some seized drugs, adding that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with the law.

He said the agency was working to secure the necessary arrangements and approvals for the destruction exercise in the Idiroko area.

Olasumbo said sustained cooperation among security agencies remained essential to curbing drug trafficking and other illegal activities along Nigeria’s borders.