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By Adejoke Adeleye, Ogun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted 43 consignments of smuggled goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3.153 billion in 15 days, including codeine-based drugs and military camouflage face caps.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, disclosed this on Thursday during his maiden press briefing at Idiroko, Ogun State.
Ibrahim, who assumed office on September 29, 2026, said the seizures followed intensified intelligence-led operations to curb smuggling, protect national security and public health, and facilitate legitimate trade.
He listed the seized items to include foreign parboiled rice, cannabis sativa, unregistered pharmaceutical products, used vehicles, second-hand clothing, shoes, tyres and other prohibited goods.
According to him, three trucks intercepted on October 2 were conveying thousands of cartons of foreign pasta and other prohibited products.
He said a Sino truck with registration number MSW-232-XA was found carrying 2,740 cartons of foreign Siddo Pasta concealed with 500 cartons of Oki Condensed Milk.
Another truck, a Howo with registration number TFA-674-XA, was intercepted with 6,000 cartons of foreign Ginny Pasta, while an Iveco truck with registration number KMC-702-ZR was conveying 6,500 cartons of foreign Doga Pasta.
Ibrahim further disclosed that on October 4, officers intercepted a Dangote truck with registration number FZE-552-DA along the Afam-Dangote-Itori axis. The vehicle was carrying 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice concealed among mica and gypsum stones.
He added that on October 11, officers intercepted a 10-tyre truck with registration number AKL-456-XL, containing 321 military camouflage face caps and 27,831 assorted unregistered pharmaceutical products.
The drugs, he said, included codeine cough syrup, injections, eye drops and supplements without registration numbers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The acting controller said the five trucks involved in the major seizures had an estimated value of ₦1.235 billion and would be forfeited to the Federal Government in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Other seizures recorded during the period included 4,013 pieces of cannabis sativa, one wrap of Canadian Loud, 950 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 660 bags of foreign parboiled rice, four bundles of used pneumatic tyres, 106 bales of second-hand clothing, 1,320 pairs of smuggled new shoes and 3,700 pairs of used shoes.
The command also intercepted 252 imported face caps, 1,250 foreign-used bags and 13 foreign-used vehicles.
The vehicles comprised Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota Venza, Lexus LX600, Lexus ES350, Toyota Camry, Avensis Verso, Peugeot 406, Galaxy and Nissan Almera models.
Ibrahim assured that the command would sustain its intelligence-led operations and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies to frustrate smugglers and their collaborators.
The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, Akande Olafemi Olasunbo, described the interception of codeine-based drugs and military camouflage items as significant to public health and national security.
Olasunbo said codeine, initially used as an ingredient in cough syrups, had become a major concern because of its abuse and addictive potential, particularly among young people.
He said the seizure underscored the responsibility of security agencies to prevent illicit drug trafficking and protect communities from the dangers of substance abuse.
The NDLEA commander also expressed concern over the discovery of military camouflage face caps alongside the drugs, noting that such items could be diverted to criminal groups and insurgents.
According to him, the interception had disrupted part of the supply chain for illicit substances and other items that could support criminal activities.
He commended the Customs Service and other security agencies for their collaboration, stressing that a coordinated approach was essential to tackling smuggling and drug trafficking.
“Idiroko has been a no-go area for traffickers.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has said it, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has also stood its ground against drug trafficking, drug peddling and drug business,” he said.
Olasunbo disclosed that the NDLEA would continue its investigations and begin prosecution processes in respect of the seized items handed over to the agency.
He added that approval had been obtained for the public destruction of some quantities of seized illicit drugs, while efforts were ongoing to secure further approvals for the exercise.
He explained that the destruction would be carried out in accordance with relevant legal procedures after the necessary investigative and prosecution requirements had been fulfilled.
Earlier, Ibrahim commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and support, while praising officers and men of the Ogun I Area Command for their commitment to duty.
He also acknowledged the contributions of sister security agencies, traditional institutions, community stakeholders and youths to efforts to strengthen border security.
The acting controller warned smugglers and their collaborators to abandon illegal activities, assuring that the command would continue to deploy intelligence, surveillance and inter-agency collaboration to protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
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