Customs seized N314m illicit drugs, weapons in Q1 -Controller
The Controller of Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mohammed Shuaibu on Tuesday said that the command made seizures of various contraband valued at N314,057,716 within the first quarter of 2025.
Shuaibu stated that some of the contrabands impounded within the period under review included three long-barrelled rifles and ammunition concealed in a sack containing herbs.
Other seizures are 7,242 bags of rice, 22 vehicles, 843 used tyres, 535 kegs of 25 litres of petroleum, Cannabis Sativa, among others.
Shuaibu explained that the command also generated N43, 412, 717 revenue within this period with an increase of N7, 600 when compared with the revenue generated same period last year.
The controller disclosed this on Tuesday at a briefing held at the Idiroko command of the NCS.
Shuaibu disclosed that the command has dedicated the last three months to collaborating with critical stakeholders within and outside the country for seamless and legitimate trade while enforcing government fiscal policies against smuggling activities.
He explained that aside from collaboration with other sister agencies, the command has equally visited the Benin Republic Police and the Customs Controller in charge of the Igolo-Idiroko border with the purpose of strengthening border security and improving trade facilitation, peace and border security between the two countries
Shuaibu said, “During the period under review, the command collected a total sum of N43, 412,794.00 from import duty and auction sales of petroleum products (PMS) intercepted during anti-smuggling operations.
“This amount surpasses what was generated same period last year, 2024, with N7, 606,232.00. The command’s intensive and intelligence-based anti-smuggling operations resulted in 161 seizures.
“These include three single-barrelled long guns, four packets of 25 cartridges (100 pieces of Cartridges), 150 Sacks of Indian hemp of various sizes, 10 cartons of Amoxicillin capsules, 7, 242 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice. Others are four used vehicles, 20 bags of imported sugar, 20 bags of flour powder, 50 bags of POP Cement, 22 Vehicles (means of conveyance), 534 Cannabis Sativa of Booklet sizes,
“The remaining contraband are 239 Cannabis Sativa of bread Sizes, 2,926 Cannabis Sativa of coconut Sizes, 2 Sacks of Cowries,12 cartons of Ghana Soap, 843 pieces of Pneumatics tyres and 535 kegs of PMS of 25 litres each (13,375 litres). The cumulative duty paid value (DPV) for all the above seizures amounted to N 314, 057,716.”
He revealed that within the period under review, the command has equally processed 329.6 metric tonnes of export consignments valued at N266,966,642.
Shuaibu, at the event, also handed over the seized Cannabis and other illicit drugs to the Idiroko Special Command of the NDLEA for destruction.
He warned criminal elements in the state to steer clear of smuggling activities as the command remained resolute to its mandate of suppression of smuggling and other illicit activities inimical to the economic growth of Nigeria.
The Customs boss hailed his officers for their patriotism while also lauding the Controller General of the NCS, Bashir Adeniyi for providing outstanding leadership that is responsible for the Command’s modest achievements.
He implored well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to continue to cooperate with the command by providing useful information against economic sabotage for the sake of the nation’s development.
Receiving the contrabands, the Commander of the Idiroko Special Command of NDLEA, Segun Adeyeye, lauded the collaboration between the two agencies, saying that it has helped a lot to strengthen the fight against the havoc being wreaked among youths.
