The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has recorded a significant breakthrough in its anti-smuggling operations, intercepting various contraband items with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦6.77 billion.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Idiroko border, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Olukayode Afeni, revealed that the command secured 73 seizures within a 41-day period following a strategic review of its enforcement tactics.

The most substantial portion of the haul included 10,126 parcels of “Ghanaian Loud” (cannabis indica) and 26 sacks of raw cannabis sativa, which alone carry an estimated street value exceeding ₦5 billion.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of a wide range of prohibited goods, including 1,759 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,685 kegs of vegetable oil, 14,550 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 226 cartons of Basmati rice, and various quantities of second-hand clothing and footwear.

Additionally, the command intercepted 77 cartons of Analgin injections lacking NAFDAC registration and 50 cartons of expired seasoning cubes, both of which pose serious public health risks.

Highlighting the command’s successes beyond enforcement, Afeni noted that ₦125.43 million was generated for the federation account through baggage assessments and auctions between March and May 2026.

Reaffirming the command’s commitment to national security and economic stability, Controller Afeni stated, “We remain resolute in our duty to ensure that Ogun State and the nation at large remain a hostile environment for those who seek to undermine our economic stability.”

He emphasized that the removal of over 26,000 parcels of cannabis from the streets since January is a vital preventive measure, noting, “Without this intervention, our society would face a wave of drug-related crises that our already overstretched healthcare and rehabilitation systems may not be able to handle.”

The seized narcotics have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.