The Nigeria Customs Service says it seized 327 consignments of smuggled goods with a duty paid value of N14.7 billion between December 4, 2025, and September 29, 2026.

Olukayode Afeni, the outgoing area comptroller of Ogun 1 area command in Idiroko, disclosed this on Thursday in Idiroko during the handover of the command to Ahmed Ibrahim.

Mr Ibrahim replaced Mr Afeni, who was redeployed to the Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr Afeni said the seizures were recorded through intelligence-led operations, improved enforcement strategies and collaboration with sister security agencies.

He said the command also handed over seized illicit drugs and other prohibited items to relevant agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

Mr Afeni said the seized items included 32,449 parcels of cannabis, including Colorado and Ghana loud; 50 sacks of raw cannabis; 19,525 litres of petrol; 8,787 cartons of spaghetti; 11,578 bags of foreign parboiled rice; and 6,453 kegs of vegetable oil.

He added that the command also seized six live pangolins, 2,128 live cartridges, 1,315 Riodin explosives, two revolver pistols, 11 Dane guns and two locally made pistols.

Other seized items included five camouflage outfits, 32 camouflage innerwear, 32 camouflage tops, 197 camouflage trousers and seven foreign-used vehicles, including a 2026 Range Rover P530 Autobiography.

Mr Afeni said the command generated N896.5 million between January and August 2026 against a revenue target of N545.3 million. He said the command therefore exceeded its target by N350.7 million. He attributed the achievement to the dedication, transparency and resilience of the personnel.

Mr Afeni said the command handled 31,177 metric tonnes of goods with a free-on-board value of N4.6 billion. He said the figure represented a significant improvement from the corresponding period in 2025, when the command recorded no export trade.

Mr Afeni said the command also strengthened collaboration with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to curb smuggling and protect national security. He congratulated Mr Ibrahim on his deployment and urged personnel, sister agencies, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to support the new administration.

Mr Afeni also commended the comptroller-general of customs, Bashir Adewale, and the management of the service for their support during his tenure.

Mr Ibrahim commended Mr Afeni for his leadership and achievements, saying he would consolidate the gains the command recorded. He said the command would remain focused on revenue collection, suppression of smuggling, facilitation of legitimate trade and protection of national security.

“We will remain steadfast in the discharge of the core mandates of NCS, particularly revenue collection, suppression of smuggling, facilitation of lawful trade and protection of national security,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim called for support from personnel, traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, sister agencies, and other stakeholders. He said the command would operate an open-door policy and urged those involved in economic sabotage to desist, warning that it would arrest offenders. 

(NAN)