The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted contraband with a Duty Paid Value of N2.469 billion, including a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography valued at N417.01 million, in a major anti-smuggling operation along the Idiroko border corridor.
The seizures were recorded between August 14 and September 17, 2026, as the command intensified intelligence-led operations against cross-border smuggling and economic sabotage in Ogun State.
Speaking at a press briefing in Idiroko, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the operation dealt significant blows to illicit trade networks operating within the state. He described the recovery of the luxury Range Rover as evidence of the command’s zero-tolerance stance on smuggling.
According to Afeni, the seized items included 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3,893 parcels of cannabis indica weighing about 1.878 tonnes, 8,675 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 428 pneumatic tyres, 24 bales of used clothing, four sacks of used shoes, and 500 litres of diesel packed in kegs.
The command said the narcotics would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s Idiroko Special Command for further investigation and prosecution, in line with existing inter-agency collaboration.
Beyond enforcement, Afeni said the command had continued to facilitate legitimate trade despite challenges associated with land border operations. He noted that improved baggage assessment, physical examination and import-export verification had also contributed revenue to the Federation Account during the review period.
He added that the Ogun I Area Command had strengthened operational partnerships with the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA and other security agencies, while also engaging traditional rulers and border communities to improve intelligence gathering and reduce hostility during enforcement activities.
The acting controller warned smugglers to desist from illegal cross-border activities, declaring that the Ogun border would remain a hostile environment for uncustomed goods and other forms of economic sabotage.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
