The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted contraband items worth over N6.7 billion, including more than 10,000 parcels of cannabis indica popularly known as “Ghana Loud,” during a series of anti-smuggling operations across the state.
Speaking during a press briefing held in Idiroko on Tuesday, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller OO Afeni, said the command recorded 73 seizures within 41 days through intensified intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration.
Afeni disclosed that the seized cannabis weighed about 4,627 kilograms with an estimated street value of over N5 billion. He added that the command also confiscated 1,759 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,685 kegs of vegetable oil, 14,550 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 77 cartons of Analgin injections without registration numbers, 50 cartons of expired Maggi cubes, second-hand clothing, footwears, used vehicles and six live pangolins.
According to him, the cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items stands at N6,777,236,000.
The Customs boss noted that the command had earlier handed over 2,543 parcels of cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in March, stressing that the latest seizures demonstrate the agency’s renewed resolve against smuggling activities.
He warned that cannabis abuse poses serious threats to national security and public health, linking it to criminal activities such as cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism.
“From January to date, we have taken 26,002 parcels of cannabis off the streets. This is not just a seizure, but a preventive measure against drug-related crises,” he said.
Afeni also defended the Federal Government’s ban on rice importation through land borders, saying persistent smuggling undermines local rice production and economic growth.
Highlighting another major interception, he revealed that Customs operatives seized a DAF truck loaded with 2,185 kegs of vegetable oil along the Shagamu Interchange/Ogere axis on May 5, following intelligence reports.
He added that another truck intercepted on May 7 was found conveying unregistered pharmaceutical products, expired food items, rice, footwears and used clothes.
On revenue generation, Afeni said the command remitted N125.4 million into the Federation Account between March 16 and May 12 through baggage assessments and auction of seized petroleum products.
He further disclosed that the command facilitated the export of 95 metric tonnes of goods valued at over N1 billion Free On Board (FOB).
The Acting Controller announced that the command is introducing advanced geospatial technology to strengthen border surveillance and improve intelligence-led enforcement operations in line with the modernization agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
He commended sister security agencies, including the NDLEA, DSS, Immigration and Police, for their collaboration in combating smuggling and other cross-border crimes in Ogun State.