IDIROKO — In an aggressive crackdown on cross-border economic sabotage and narcotics trafficking, the Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a massive haul of contraband goods. The seized items possess a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦6.77 billion, all raked in within an intensive 41-day operational window. Prominent among the seizures is a massive shipment of over 10,000 parcels of high-potency cannabis indica, colloquially known on the streets as “Ghana Loud.”

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Customs Controller Olukayode Afeni, made the structural disclosure during a comprehensive press briefing at the command’s strategic operational headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State. Afeni emphasized that the historic seizures were achieved through precision, intelligence-led border monitoring, and robust inter-agency collaborations designed to completely dismantle entrenched smuggling cartels operating along the Nigeria-Benin Republic frontier.

The Logistics of the Haul: Narcotics, Foodstuffs, and Wildlife

Detailing the scorecard of the latest enforcement push, Afeni revealed that the command executed a total of 73 distinct seizures. The tactical interceptions disrupted several well-funded supply chains, resulting in the confiscation of 10,126 parcels of cannabis indica weighing approximately 4,627 kilograms. The street value for this particular drug haul alone is estimated to exceed ₦5 billion.

Additionally, operatives intercepted 26 sacks of raw cannabis sativa, 1,759 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,685 kegs of 25-liter vegetable oil, and 14,550 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) packaged in jerrycans to be smuggled out of the country.

The security sweep also targeted unregulated, high-risk pharmaceuticals and consumer products that pose immediate public health threats. Customs teams confiscated 77 cartons of Analgin injection lacking National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration numbers, alongside 50 cartons of expired Maggi seasoning cubes. Other items caught in the net included bulk quantities of foreign sugar, basmati rice, organic honey, second-hand clothing, footwear, and two utilized smuggling vehicles.

Proving that border security extends to the preservation of ecosystems, Customs operatives also intercepted six live pangolins one of the world's most heavily trafficked endangered mammals. The animals were promptly rescued and handed over to relevant environmental conservation authorities for rehabilitation and release.

The Link Between Narcotics and National Security Risks

Addressing the broader societal impact of the narcotics seizure, Controller Afeni warned that the uncontrolled influx of illicit drugs serves as a primary driver for domestic insecurity. He directly linked the underground drug trade to the financing and escalation of violent crimes across Nigeria, including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, banditry, and terrorism.

"From January to date, this command has successfully removed 26,002 parcels of cannabis off the streets," Afeni stated firmly. "This goes beyond standard customs revenue enforcement; it is a vital preventive public safety intervention. Left unchecked, a drug influx of this magnitude has the capacity to completely overwhelm our national healthcare, psychiatric, and social rehabilitation systems."

Turning to economic policies, the Customs boss reiterated that the importation of foreign rice through land borders remains strictly prohibited by the Federal Government. This macro-policy is designed to protect local farmers, incentivize domestic rice mills, and guarantee national food self-sufficiency.

Afeni highlighted a major interception on May 5 along the Sagamu Interchange/Ogere axis, where operatives stopped a DAF truck (Registration No: MSA105XB) stuffed with 2,185 smuggled kegs of vegetable oil. On May 7, a Volvo truck carrying a mix of unregistered pharmaceuticals, expired food, and smuggled apparel was intercepted along the same commercial corridor. He warned that unvetted, adulterated cooking oil imports actively destroy local manufacturing jobs while exposing Nigerian consumers to severe cardiac and health risks.

Fiscal Generation and the Transition to Geospatial Enforcement

Despite focusing heavily on anti-smuggling combat operations, the Ogun I Command recorded substantial fiscal gains. Between March 16 and May 12, 2026, the command generated ₦125.43 million through formal baggage assessments and the structured public auction of seized combustible petroleum products.

Simultaneously, the command facilitated the legitimate export of 95 metric tonnes of locally manufactured goods. The outward trade generated a Free on Board (FOB) value exceeding ₦1 billion, signaling a gradual improvement in compliant, formal cross-border commerce.

To sustain this momentum, Afeni announced that the command is transitioning out of manual border policing and entering a modern era of digital enforcement. In alignment with the modernization agenda championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the command is deploying advanced geospatial technology and satellite imaging.

This tech-driven upgrade will provide real-time, predictive monitoring of illegal border tracks, improve administrative transparency, and align Nigeria’s border management with international standards dictated by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework. Afeni concluded by commending the joint support of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigeria Police Force for their unwavering patriotism in safeguarding the nation's economic borders.