By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted 43 consignments of smuggled goods valued at over N3.15 billion within 15 days.
The Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, disclosed this during his maiden press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State.
He said the seizures comprised foreign rice, pasta, cannabis, unregistered pharmaceutical products, used vehicles and other prohibited items.
Giving details of the operations, Ibrahim said three trucks conveying foreign pasta and condensed milk were intercepted on October 2, while another truck loaded with 100 bags of foreign rice concealed beneath mica and gypsum stones was intercepted along the Afamin-Dangote-Itori axis on October 4.
He added that Customs officers intercepted another truck on October 11, recovering 27,831 assorted unregistered drugs and 321 military camouflage face caps.
The acting controller further disclosed that five trucks valued at approximately N1.235 billion would be forfeited to the Federal Government in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Ibrahim warned smugglers to desist from illegal activities within the command’s area of operation, stressing that the service would sustain its enforcement operations in collaboration with other security agencies to safeguard public health, national security and legitimate businesses.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Idiroko Special Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Akande Olasunbo Oluwafemi, said the seizure of codeine-based drugs was significant in curbing drug abuse, particularly among young people.
Oluwafemi noted that the discovery of military camouflage face caps and other seized items also raised security concerns, adding that the operation would help disrupt the supply of materials that could be used by individuals involved in criminal activities.
The NDLEA assured residents that security agencies, including Customs, Immigration and other relevant services, would continue to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to prevent the movement of illicit goods across the borders.
The agency added that investigations and prosecution processes would continue, while efforts were ongoing to secure approval for the public destruction of some of the seized drugs.
