The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted contraband with a combined Duty Paid Value of N2.469 billion during intensified anti-smuggling operations along the state’s border corridors.
The seizures included a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography P530 valued at about N417.01 million, more than 1.8 tonnes of cannabis, foreign parboiled rice, tyres and petroleum products.
The Acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, disclosed the seizures during a briefing at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State.
According to Customs, the operations were conducted between August 14 and September 17, 2026, using intelligence-led enforcement, increased border surveillance and cooperation with other security agencies.
What Customs seized
The Ogun I Area Command said its officers intercepted several categories of goods during the operations.
They included:
- 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice
- 3,893 parcels of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1.878 tonnes
- 428 pneumatic tyres
- 8,675 litres of Premium Motor Spirit
- 24 bales of second-hand clothing
- Four sacks of used shoes
- 500 litres of diesel
Customs said the combined Duty Paid Value of the seizures was N2,469,153,523.68.
Duty Paid Value is an assessment used by Customs to represent the duties and other applicable charges associated with imported goods. It should not automatically be interpreted as the amount of cash recovered from smugglers or the market value of every seized item.
N417m Range Rover among the seizures
One of the most prominent seizures was a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography P530, which Customs valued at approximately N417.01 million.
Afeni said the vehicle was intercepted as part of efforts to prevent improperly imported vehicles and other uncustomed goods from entering the country through the Ogun border corridors.
The seizure highlights the Customs Service’s focus on high-value imports alongside more traditional smuggling commodities such as rice, clothing and petroleum products.
Nearly two tonnes of cannabis handed to NDLEA
The operation also resulted in the seizure of 3,893 parcels of cannabis weighing 1.878 tonnes.
The Customs command said the cannabis was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s Idiroko Special Command for further investigation and other necessary action.
The handover reflects the division of responsibilities between the agencies, with Customs responsible for border enforcement while the NDLEA handles the investigation and enforcement of Nigeria’s laws concerning illicit drugs.
The NDLEA’s Idiroko commander, Oluwafemi Akande, commended Customs for the seizure and said stronger cooperation among law enforcement agencies was needed because of the volume of illicit drugs intercepted along the corridor.
Border communities remain part of enforcement strategy
Customs said its activities in Ogun are not limited to seizures.
The command reported holding meetings and operational engagements with the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA and environmental agencies.
It also said it had engaged traditional rulers, youth leaders and border community associations.
According to the command, the community engagement is intended to improve cooperation, build trust and reduce tensions that can arise during enforcement activities.
This approach is particularly relevant in Ogun, where the country’s border with Benin Republic creates extensive cross-border movement involving both legitimate commerce and attempts to evade customs controls.
Customs says legitimate trade remains a priority
Despite the seizures, the Ogun I command said it remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade.
Afeni said the command had strengthened duty collection, baggage assessment, physical examination and import and export verification procedures.
Customs also said it was paying particular attention to sensitive commodities and improving procedures intended to reduce difficulties for compliant traders.
The balance between enforcement and trade facilitation remains important for border communities and businesses that depend on legitimate cross-border commerce.
Why the seizures matter
The latest operation illustrates the range of goods Customs officers encounter along Nigeria’s land borders.
The intercepted commodities span food products, vehicles, petroleum products, tyres, clothing and illicit drugs. Some of these goods have direct implications for customs revenue, while others raise separate public-health, safety or security concerns.
Foreign rice and used clothing, for example, are part of the long-running debate over imports and the protection of domestic producers. Petroleum products require additional regulatory controls because of their importance to Nigeria’s energy market.
The cannabis seizure falls into a different category because the substance is subject to Nigeria’s drug-control laws.
Investigation will determine next steps
The seizure of goods does not by itself establish criminal liability against particular individuals.
The relevant authorities will need to determine who owned, transported or attempted to import the goods and whether any offences were committed under applicable Nigerian laws.
In the case of the cannabis, Customs has already transferred the seized parcels to the NDLEA for further investigation.
For the other items, Customs enforcement and any subsequent prosecution will depend on the circumstances of each seizure and the applicable customs or other laws.
The Ogun I Area Command said it would continue its anti-smuggling operations while maintaining engagement with legitimate traders and border communities.
The latest seizures therefore represent both an enforcement action and another indication of the continuing pressure on Nigeria’s land borders to prevent illicit trade while keeping legitimate commerce moving.
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