NO RESPITE FOR ECONOMIC SABOTEURS; AS D/COMPT OLADAPO AFENI INTERCEPTS N4.6 BILLION CONTRABAND, GENERATES N260 MILLION IN Q2
Seizures of contraband goods are unrelenting by officers and men of the Ogun 1 command , Idiroko, as the command’s boss has announced a N4.6 billion worth of such interceptions in the last three months.
Briefing Newsmen at the headquarter of the Command yesterday, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni disclosed that his men were smarter than the economic saboteurs, the major reason for the many seizure harvests.
He also stated that no less than N259.2 million was generated as revenue in the period under review as against N76.8 million in same period of last year.
Several contraband products featured in the seizure profile, including drugs, foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit (PMS) as well as general merchandise.
He said the Command under his watch have remained relentless in enforcing government fiscal policies and trade guidelines. Consequently, the Command recorded a total number of 146 seizures ranging from Cannabis Sativa, Foreign parboiled rice, Footwears, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), three loads of trucks and other general merchandise from April 1st to the morning of 24 June, 2026.
’Allow me to highlight some of these significant successes recorded during the period under review. In line with their efforts to prevent fatal road crashes caused by the use of substandard, second-hand tyres, on 3rd June 2026, the command’s patrol team covering Ijebu-Ode axis intercepted a wonder truck with Reg No ENU-660-XY, bearing a deceptive for Sale inscription, boldly written on the truck, designed to divert the attention of their officers, a thorough physical examination revealed that the vehicle was conveying 2,427 pieces of smuggled pneumatic tyres.
According to him, on the 16 June, 2026, at about 2200hrs, a patrol team acting on precise intelligence, intercepted a truck (registration number BKD-796-XB) along the Itori-Wasimi-Abeokuta axis. The driver ignored initial signal to stop and sped off, aggressively attempting to ram the patrol van and endangering the lives of their officers. Demonstrating high professionalism, our officers successfully brought the vehicle to a halt and apprehended the driver. A subsequent search of the truck revealed 113 bags of foreign parboiled rice deceptively concealed underneath bags of cement. The suspect remains in custody and will be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations
Following their recent seizure of military camouflage uniforms along Sagamu Expressway, on 17th May, 2026 to be precise, officers operating along Afamin-Igbogila axis, on 14 June 2026 (a month after) intercepted another truck with registration number DRK-303-XA. The vehicle was fully loaded with 630 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50kg each.
According to him, allowing uncustomed goods of this nature into our markets directly undermines and paralyses local industries, ultimately worsening unemployment among our teeming youth. They remain resolute in their mandate to protect the national economy and secure our land borders
Other seizures recorded within the period under review includes
2,807 bags of foreign parboiled rice 50kg each. 9,482 parcels of cannabis sativa. 62 sacks of raw marijuana. 16,525 litres of premium motor spirit in kegs. 475 litters of diesel. 7,642 pieces of footwear. 2,427 pneumatic tyres. 63 sacks of foreign sugar. 73 bales of second-hand clothing. 1 unit of used vehicles. 10 bags of fertilizer (50kg each). 62 bags of imported flour. 32 cartons of frozen product. 100 sachets of Tramadol of 10 pieces each (225mg)
The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned items stood at Four Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Naira, Sixteen Kobo N4,628,591,970.16. These items were seized mainly because they fall under import/export prohibition list and failure to comply with other extant regulations as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act
He said , during the period under review, the command recorded a total export volume of 20,972 metric tons with Free On Board (FOB) value of One Billion Forty-Nine Million Twenty Thousand Four Hundred Naira ₦1,049,020,400. This marks a massive year-on-year improvement compare to same period last year 2025, during which zero export activity was recorded. The primary drivers of this export volume included white talc, crushed thermal coal and CNG.
As Chairman of the Joint Border Security Committee, which unites Nigeria and Beninese security agencies including the NPF, DSS, NIS, NSCDC, NDLEA, FRSC and other agencies manning Idiroko-Igolo border, a coordinated joint operation targeting criminal hideouts and abandoned projects along the Idiroko-Igolo border in the Ipokia Local Government Area was carried out.
This measures send a clear message to criminal elements, both inside and outside their Area of Responsibility (AoR) to “Stay away”. Under his leadership, their joint border security force alongside all security agencies and our Beninese counterparts are all united and will ensure this zone remains entirely hostile and unfavourable for criminal activity.
He deposed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is a critical agency primarily responsible for eliminating the cultivation, processing, manufacturing, sale, trafficking, consumption of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances in Nigeria.
In tandem with this mandate, and as part of their commitment to sustained inter-agency collaboration which aligns directly with the policy thrust of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD, today, they are handing over another 6,981 parcels of Cannabis Indica (Ghanian loud) in different sizes and 62 sacks of raw marijuana to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command for further necessary action.
As part of their sustained enforcement operations to eliminate the influx of unregistered and dangerous drugs into the country, the Command is handing over a substantial seizure of illicit pharmaceuticals to NAFDAC. The seized items include 77 cartons of Analgin injection (138,600 tubes) and 100 sachets of Tramadol, with each sachet containing 10 tablets of 225mg each, which sum up to 1000 tablets of TRAMADOL at 225mg each.
This handover underscores their unwavering synergy with sister agencies in the collective fight against illicit trade and the preservation of national security and inter-agency collaboration in securing our borders.
In the area of stakeholder’s engagement, the Command has maintained its open-door policy and resolved a lot of issues of common interest with concerned stakeholders. At this juncture, he reiterates his call to their esteemed partners in the clearance value chain to always brace up to the emerging challenges as they work together to move the country forward. Finally, he urged Officers and Men of the Command to remain focused and steadfast in discharging their assigned responsibilities.
He stated that this briefing will be incomplete, if he fails to appreciate the continuous support of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD who also doubles as Chairman WCO. Saying it is pleasure to also commend the officers and men of Ogun I Area Command for their resilience, professionalism, and dedication to duty. Your hard work and commitment have been instrumental in achieving these milestones.
He uses this medium to congratulate the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD on the extension of his tenure in office. This well-deserved extension comes as no surprise, given his tireless dedication to driving the Service forward in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
He commends the synergy we are receiving from sister agencies, opinion leaders, head of traditional institutions, media, eminent personalities and other law-abiding members of the public. And will continue to count on our support in the discharge of our statutory functions.