The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, Idiroko, has seized contraband items valued at N1.35bn between February and March while generating N285,652,460 in revenue within the same period.
The acting Area Controller, Olukayode Afeni, disclosed this during a media briefing held at the command headquarters in Idiroko on Monday.
Afeni said the revenue generated during the period represented an increase of N259,265,495, compared with the same period last year, reflecting a 1,082 per cent rise.
According to him, the command also recorded a major boost in export activities, moving 95 metric tons of goods with a Free on Board value of N305,749,264.05. He noted that this marked a significant improvement compared with the same period in 2025 when no export trade was recorded.
The controller said the command also intercepted two antiquities, which will be handed over to the curator of the National Museum at Baptist Girls College, Idi-aba, Abeokuta, after expert evaluation as part of efforts to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
Afeni listed the seized items to include 2,539 kegs of vegetable oil (25 litres each), 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 1,204 bags of foreign rice, 2,547 parcels of cannabis sativa, 545 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (13,625 litres), 50 bags of imported sugar, eight bales of second-hand clothing, 15 sacks of used clothing, five sacks of used ladies’ handbags, two sacks of used footwear, two used vehicles, and 13 used tyres.
He explained that customs officers around the Agbara axis intercepted a truck with registration number APP-740-YD on March 11, 2026, loaded with 2,539 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil.
According to him, preliminary investigations showed the items were smuggled into the country through creeks in small batches before being transported by road. He added that further investigations were ongoing.
Afeni also revealed that the command earlier intercepted a Sino truck on March 4, 2026, carrying 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti (10kg each), describing it as part of a persistent pattern in the smuggling of essential commodities.
He said the seizures demonstrated the command’s commitment to combating smuggling, protecting local industries—particularly vegetable oil producers—and safeguarding public health.
Warning smugglers to desist, Afeni said the command remained resolute in its fight against economic sabotage.
“Our war against smuggling continues. Smugglers may attempt new tactics to evade our checks, but they will not succeed. With our intelligence network and strategic monitoring, we remain ahead of them,” he said.
The controller added that the command remained focused on securing the nation’s borders and preventing activities capable of undermining national interests, trade agreements, and security.
Afeni commended officers of the command for their dedication and professionalism and urged them to remain vigilant.
He also praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for providing leadership that had strengthened officers’ morale and commitment to protecting the nation’s borders.
