Ogun Command Seizes ₦3.15bn Contraband In 15 Days, Intercepts 13 Vehicles

By Samuel Egbewole 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, Idiroko, has recorded seizures of smuggled goods and vehicles valued at ₦3.153 billion in 15 days, as it intensifies operations against smuggling and other forms of economic sabotage.

The Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, disclosed this on Thursday at a news conference in Idiroko, attributing the seizures to intelligence-driven operations, officers’ vigilance and collaboration with sister security agencies.

He said the achievements reflected the command’s commitment to national security, economic stability and the protection of public health, warning smugglers and economic saboteurs against testing the resolve of the Service.

Ibrahim disclosed that a patrol team, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted three trucks conveying prohibited goods on October 2 at about 4:30 a.m.

According to him, the first truck, with registration number MSW-232-XA, was carrying 2,740 cartons of foreign Siddo pasta concealed with 500 cartons of Oki condensed milk.

The second truck, marked TFA-674-XA, conveyed 6,000 cartons of foreign Ginny pasta, while the third, with registration number KMC-702-ZR, contained 6,500 cartons of foreign Dogs pasta.

He added that officers intercepted another truck, with registration number FZE-552-DA, along the Admin-Dangote-Itori axis on October 4. The vehicle was conveying 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice concealed with mica and gypsum stones.

On October 11, officers also intercepted a 10-tyre truck, marked AKL-456-XL, carrying 321 pieces of military camouflage face caps.

The acting controller further disclosed that the command seized 27,831 pieces of unregistered drugs and medical products, including codeine cough syrup, injections, eye drops and supplements without registration numbers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He warned that the circulation of unregistered medicines posed serious risks to public health, while the smuggling of restricted military camouflage items raised national security concerns.

Other seizures included 4,013 wraps of Cannabis sativa, one wrap of Cannabis Loud, 950 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 660 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each and four bundles of used pneumatic tyres.

The list also comprised 106 bales of second-hand clothing, 1,320 pairs of new smuggled shoes, 252 imported face caps and an additional 1,250 bags of foreign parboiled rice.

Ibrahim said the command also seized 13 foreign-used vehicles. The vehicles included Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota Venza, Lexus LX600, Toyota Camry, Toyota Avensis Verso, Peugeot 406, Ford Galaxy and Nissan Almera models.

He put the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized goods and vehicles at ₦3.153 billion, reaffirming the command’s determination to enforce relevant laws and regulations and sustain its fight against smuggling and economic sabotage.