Key points
- Idiroko Command intercepts smuggled goods worth ₦1.35 billion in six weeks.
- Major seizures include vegetable oil, rice, cannabis, PMS and wildlife species.
- Customs intensifies intelligence-driven operations to curb economic sabotage and boost revenue.
Main story
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko Command, has recorded seizures of smuggled goods valued at ₦1.35 billion within six weeks, as part of intensified efforts to combat smuggling along Nigeria’s southwestern border.
The Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this during a press briefing in Idiroko, Ogun State, noting that the command has sustained operational momentum since January 29, 2026, when it declared a renewed crackdown on illicit trade.
“Today’s briefing serves as a progress report on that promise,” Afeni said, attributing the seizures to intelligence-driven operations and coordinated patrols across the border corridor.
Among the major interceptions was a truck carrying 2,539 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil, each containing 25 litres, intercepted on March 11 along the Agbara axis following credible intelligence.
Investigations revealed that the products were smuggled into the country through creeks using small boats before being transported by road.
In a related operation on March 4, Customs operatives intercepted a Sino truck conveying 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti, underscoring what officials described as a persistent trend in the smuggling of essential food items.
The issues
Customs authorities said the influx of smuggled goods poses a significant threat to local industries, particularly domestic producers of vegetable oil and other essential commodities.
They also raised concerns over the health implications of unregulated imported food products and the broader economic impact of illicit trade on government revenue.
The Controller noted that smuggling networks have become increasingly sophisticated, necessitating stronger intelligence and enforcement strategies.
What’s being said
Afeni said the command remains committed to removing illicit goods from circulation to create a fair and competitive market environment.
“We are removing illicit products from the market to ensure fair competition for local manufacturers and safeguard the health of citizens,” he said.
Other items seized within the period include 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,547 parcels of cannabis sativa, 13,625 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), wildlife species including pangolins, as well as used clothing, vehicles and cultural artefacts.
The command handed over the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation, while wildlife items were transferred to the National Wildlife Conservation Centre.
Similarly, two recovered antiquities were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for preservation at the National Museum in Abeokuta.
Afeni warned smugglers to desist, stating that the command would remain proactive in surveillance and enforcement.
“Smugglers may attempt new tactics, but with our intelligence network and strategic monitoring, we remain ahead of them,” he said.
What’s next
The Idiroko Command said it would intensify border surveillance, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and deploy advanced intelligence systems to curb smuggling activities.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating legitimate trade and improving revenue generation, having recorded over ₦285 million from baggage assessments and auction sales within the review period.
Export activities are also expected to improve, following the movement of 95 metric tonnes of goods valued at over ₦305 million, marking a significant turnaround from the previous year.
Bottom line
The latest seizures underscore the Nigeria Customs Service’s renewed resolve to combat smuggling, protect local industries and enhance economic security, even as enforcement operations along the Idiroko border corridor intensify.
, Idiroko Command, has recorded seizures of smuggled goods valued at ₦1.35 billion within ...){kind=link}