The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service announced a major crackdown on illegal trade, reporting the seizure of contraband goods valued at over ₦4.6 billion between April and June 2026.
During the same period, the command generated ₦259.8 million in revenue, marking a 238 percent increase compared to the second quarter of 2025.
Acting Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, shared the update during a press briefing at the Idiroko border station on Wednesday.
He attributed the success to intensified enforcement of trade regulations and the increased resilience of officers patrolling the border corridor.
The seizures included a wide array of prohibited items, such as 2,807 bags of foreign parboiled rice, thousands of liters of fuel, illicit drugs, and various smuggled consumer goods.
Notably, officers intercepted a truck carrying over 2,400 smuggled pneumatic tires that had been disguised with “For Sale” signage to evade inspection. Another operation successfully apprehended a driver attempting to smuggle rice hidden beneath bags of cement.
In line with inter-agency cooperation, the command handed over large quantities of seized narcotics and illicit pharmaceuticals including cannabis and restricted injections to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and prosecution.
Beyond anti-smuggling efforts, the command also recorded a significant rise in legal trade activity, processing over 20,000 metric tons of exports, including talc, thermal coal, and compressed natural gas.
This represents a substantial turnaround, as no export activity was recorded during the same timeframe last year.
Deputy Comptroller Afeni emphasized that the command remains committed to protecting local industries from the economic damage caused by smuggling.
He also highlighted ongoing collaborative security efforts with Beninese authorities, noting that joint operations are actively working to ensure the border region remains secure and hostile to criminal elements.
