Customs Seize N1.35bn Worth of Contraband in Ogun, Move to Protect Local Industries
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intensified its anti-smuggling operations, intercepting prohibited goods with a Duty Paid Value of over ₦1.35 billion in a renewed effort to protect local industries and sanitise the domestic market.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday in Ogun State, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni, said the command remains committed to curbing illicit trade and eliminating practices that undermine local production.
Afeni disclosed that the seizures were made through a series of intelligence-driven operations targeting key smuggling corridors within the command’s jurisdiction.
According to him, on March 11, 2026, operatives on a patrol around the Agbara axis intercepted a truck carrying 2,539 kegs of vegetable oil, each containing 25 litres. He noted that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to shield Nigeria’s vegetable oil industry from unfair competition posed by smuggled products.
The Customs boss further revealed that in a separate operation on March 4, officers intercepted a Sino truck conveying 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti, each weighing 10 kilograms, highlighting what he described as a persistent trend in the illegal importation of staple commodities.
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He emphasised that removing such goods from circulation would help ensure a level playing field for local producers while also safeguarding public health.
Beyond food items, the command recorded several other significant seizures, including 204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,547 parcels of cannabis sativa, and 545 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit amounting to 13,625 litres.
Other items confiscated include 36 cartons of Bardinet syrup, 50 bags of imported sugar, 13 used tyres, second-hand clothing, footwear, handbags, perfume oil, artefacts, and two used vehicles. Additionally, four live pangolins were rescued and handed over to wildlife conservation authorities.
Afeni stated that the total Duty Paid Value of the intercepted items stands at ₦1,350,751,000.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, noting that the seized cannabis and artefacts had been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.
Receiving the items on behalf of the agency, Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Ganiyu Adeyoye, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its sustained support and cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its resolve to sustain enforcement operations aimed at deterring smuggling, protecting legitimate businesses, and strengthening the nation’s economic security.
By PRNigeria
