The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded major anti-smuggling successes, intercepting contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦2 billion, barely two weeks after the assumption of office by the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni.
Speaking at his maiden press briefing held in Idiroko on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Afeni said the command has intensified border surveillance, intelligence-led operations, and inter-agency collaboration to combat smuggling, economic sabotage, and threats to national security.
Among the major seizures were two trucks laden with prohibited food items. On December 12, Customs officers intercepted an Iveco truck carrying 4,998 cartons of Doga spaghetti and 419 cartons of Oba spaghetti, all illegally imported from Turkey. A day later, a DAF truck conveying 2,200 kegs of 25-litre vegetable oil of Indonesian origin was also intercepted. The combined DPV of the food items stood at ₦291.26 million, while the trucks used for conveyance were valued at ₦222 million.
Afeni warned that such smuggled food items pose serious health risks, as they bypass regulatory checks by relevant Nigerian authorities. He noted that all seized items and vehicles are liable to forfeiture in line with existing laws.
The command also recorded significant narcotics seizures, including 12kg of crystal meth, 16kg of heroin, and large quantities of cannabis sativa weighing over 1,500kg. Other seizures included 6,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 4,738 bags of foreign parboiled rice, two foreign-used vehicles, used pneumatic tyres, and eight means of conveyance.
In total, the DPV of all seizures amounted to ₦2,006,008,898, intercepted across various flashpoints in Ogun State, including Idiroko, Ipokia, Imeko, Abeokuta, Lusada, and Igbo-Ora axes.
Afeni described the narcotics seizures as particularly alarming, citing global reports by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which link rising drug abuse to serious public health and security challenges, especially among youths. He disclosed that the cannabis seizures resulted from six intelligence-driven operations conducted between December 4 and December 15, 2025.
Despite being primarily an enforcement command, Ogun I Area Command also generated ₦27.29 million in revenue as of December 16, 2025, through compliance enforcement and the diligence of officers.
As part of inter-agency cooperation, the seized cannabis sativa was formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, for further action.
The Customs boss commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and support, while praising officers of the command, sister security agencies, community leaders, and the media for their collaboration.
He concluded by warning smugglers and criminal networks to steer clear of Ogun I Command, assuring the public of the NCS’s continued commitment to professionalism, integrity, and the protection of Nigeria’s economic and security interests.