Key points
- Nigeria Customs Service Oyo/Osun Command seizes contraband worth ₦3.22bn, including drugs, arms, vehicles, and food items.
- Command records ₦28.50bn revenue between March and May 2026, marking an 8% increase year-on-year.
- Three suspects arrested over firearms smuggling and recruitment fraud scheme.
Main story
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command, has intercepted contraband goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3.22 billion while recording significant growth in revenue generation for the period under review.
The Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Wale Moses Adewole, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing, where he reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to strengthening anti-smuggling operations, enhancing trade facilitation, and boosting revenue collection.
Adewole attributed the achievements to sustained intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration, and the strategic leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
He noted that the Command remains resolute in executing its statutory mandate of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and facilitation of legitimate trade in line with ongoing reforms within the Service.
Anti-smuggling operations
According to the Command, a wide range of prohibited and controlled items were intercepted during operations across Oyo and Osun States.
The seizures include foreign parboiled rice, used clothing, shoes, tyres, sugar, pharmaceuticals, cannabis sativa, tramadol, firearms, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and several vehicles.
Notable among the seizures were:
1,537 bags of foreign rice
102 bales and 13 sacks of used clothing
1,105 pieces of used tyres
1,769 wraps of cannabis sativa
Over 5,500 units of tramadol-related pharmaceuticals
Three pump-action rifles
15 vehicles of various brands including Toyota Corolla, GMC, and Toyota Hiace
The Command confirmed that three suspects were arrested in connection with the interception of the pump-action rifles and are currently under investigation.
In another development, a suspect was also apprehended for allegedly defrauding members of the public through a fake Customs recruitment scheme.
The total value of all seizures stood at ₦3,221,843,672.
The issues
The Command raised concerns over rising cases of smuggling, drug trafficking, and fraud targeting unsuspecting citizens under the guise of job recruitment into the Nigeria Customs Service.
Authorities warned that recruitment into the Service remains strictly merit-based and officially conducted through approved government channels.
The Controller also highlighted the continued threat of economic sabotage through illicit importation of prohibited goods, which undermines local industries and national security.
What’s being said
Deputy Comptroller Adewole commended the officers of the Command for their dedication and professionalism, attributing the successes to intelligence-driven enforcement and inter-agency cooperation.
He also appreciated the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs and the Management Team for providing strategic direction and reforms that have strengthened operational efficiency.
“The Command remains steadfast in safeguarding the economy, protecting local industries, and ensuring national security,” he said.
Stakeholders, including sister security agencies and members of the trading community, were also acknowledged for their cooperation.
What’s next
The Command says it will intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering, and enforcement operations to further curb smuggling and other trans-border crimes.
It also pledged continued collaboration with security agencies such as the Customs Intelligence Unit, Customs Police, and Amotekun Corps to dismantle criminal networks.
Additionally, the Service will continue to reward outstanding officers and strengthen stakeholder engagement to improve compliance and revenue performance.
Bottom line
The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a major operational breakthrough, seizing contraband worth over ₦3.2 billion while boosting revenue by 8%, reinforcing its dual mandate of enforcement and revenue generation amid rising economic and security challenges.
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