The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, Idiroko, recorded seizures with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of more than ₦9.5 billion between February and August 2026, as the Command intensified operations against smuggling and other forms of cross-border illicit trade.
The seizures, which included foreign parboiled rice, petroleum products, suspected illicit drugs, vegetable oil, pharmaceuticals, clothing and other prohibited items, underscore the growing security and economic significance of the Idiroko land border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
At the centre of the Command’s recent enforcement activities is the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Oladapo Afeni, who has emphasised intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration and trade facilitation.
Between June 24 and August 13, 2026, the Command intercepted prohibited goods with a DPV of ₦3,574,435,248.08.
The items recovered during the period included 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 30 bags of foreign sugar, 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in kegs, 1,750 litres of PMS in drums, 30 kegs of diesel, 100 bags of fertiliser, 67 bales of second-hand clothing, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 3,760 pieces of new tops and 85 fire extinguishers.
Also intercepted were 480 cartons of assorted drinks, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as 127 new purses.
One of the major highlights of the operation was the seizure of 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, which were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, for further action.
According to the Command, its collaboration with the NDLEA has also resulted in the interception of significant quantities of suspected illicit drugs. Between January and August 2026, the Ogun I Command handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis Sativa to the NDLEA.
Afeni described the evolving role of the border as one that extends beyond revenue collection to encompass national security and the protection of Nigeria’s economy.
₦4.63bn seizures recorded between April and June
The latest seizures followed another major enforcement operation between April 1 and June 23, 2026, when the Command recorded 146 seizures valued at ₦4,628,591,970.16 DPV.
During the same period, the Command generated ₦259,777,346.89 in revenue, representing a 238 per cent increase over the ₦76.81 million recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The Q2 seizures included 2,807 bags of foreign rice, 9,482 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 62 sacks of raw marijuana, 16,525 litres of PMS, 2,427 tyres and 7,642 pieces of footwear, among other items.
The Command also handed over 6,981 parcels of Cannabis Indica and 62 sacks of marijuana to the NDLEA, while 77 cartons of Analgin injections were transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The figures suggest that the Command’s enforcement activities have been accompanied by increased revenue collection, while collaboration with other government agencies has remained a key component of its anti-smuggling operations.
Protecting local production
Earlier, between February and March 2026, the Ogun I Command intercepted goods valued at approximately ₦1.35 billion, including 2,539 kegs of vegetable oil, 4,325 cartons of spaghetti, 1,204 bags of rice and 13,625 litres of PMS.
Four live pangolins and two artefacts believed to date back to the 19th century were also recovered during the operations.
The interception of foreign vegetable oil and rice is particularly significant for Ogun State, which hosts several manufacturing and agro-processing companies.
Customs authorities have consistently maintained that the smuggling of competing foreign products undermines local production, threatens jobs and discourages investment in domestic manufacturing and agriculture.
The seizure of rice has remained a recurring feature of the Command’s operations. While 2,807 bags of foreign rice were seized during the April-June period, another 2,339 bags and 70 cartons of basmati rice were intercepted between June 24 and August 13.
Smuggling operations pose security risks
Some of the Command’s recent operations have also highlighted the risks faced by Customs personnel during anti-smuggling activities.
In June, officers intercepted a truck carrying 113 bags of rice along the Itori-Wasimi-Abeokuta axis after the driver allegedly attempted to ram a patrol vehicle.
In a separate operation, Customs officers intercepted 630 bags of rice at Afamin-Igbogila.
The incidents underscore the increasingly complex nature of border enforcement, with smugglers reportedly adopting bush paths, night movements and smaller consignments to evade detection.
The Command has consequently placed greater emphasis on intelligence gathering, technology-driven surveillance and joint operations with sister security agencies.
Customs records rise in export facilitation
Beyond enforcement, the Ogun I Command has also reported increased activity in export facilitation through the Idiroko border.
Between April and June 2026, the Command facilitated the export of 20,972 metric tonnes of goods valued at ₦1.049 billion Free on Board (FOB), compared with no recorded export activity during the corresponding period in 2025.
By August, the Command reported export volumes of 10,110 metric tonnes, valued at ₦2.594 billion, with commodities including white talc, crushed thermal coal and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
The development highlights the potential of the Idiroko corridor as an important route for legitimate trade between Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries, particularly under the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Enforcement and trade facilitation
The performance of the Ogun I Command under Afeni points to four broad areas of focus: anti-smuggling enforcement, revenue generation, national security and trade facilitation.
The reported seizure figures demonstrate intensified efforts to prevent prohibited goods from entering the country, while the revenue figures indicate improved collections during the period under review.
Similarly, the volume of suspected illicit drugs handed over to the NDLEA demonstrates the security dimension of border operations, while the increase in recorded exports points to efforts to facilitate legitimate commercial activities.
For Ogun State, whose economy has a strong manufacturing and agricultural base, the effectiveness of the Idiroko border is particularly important.
Challenges remain
Despite the reported gains, the continued interception of rice, petroleum products, illicit drugs and other prohibited goods indicates that the economic incentives driving smuggling remain significant.
The challenge for the Command will therefore be to sustain effective enforcement while ensuring that legitimate traders and exporters are not unnecessarily impeded.
Stronger community engagement, intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and the creation of more opportunities for legitimate cross-border trade could help address some of the factors sustaining illicit activities along the border.
Conclusion
The recent performance of the Ogun I Area Command suggests that the Idiroko border is increasingly being approached not only as a revenue-collection point but also as an important component of Nigeria’s economic and national security architecture.
With more than ₦9.5 billion worth of seizures recorded across the cited periods, alongside increased revenue collection and reported growth in export facilitation, the Command’s activities demonstrate the delicate balance between suppressing illicit trade and promoting legitimate commerce.
For Customs, the task ahead is to sustain the momentum while ensuring that enforcement remains intelligence-driven, professional and supportive of lawful cross-border trade.
Under Afeni’s leadership, the unfolding performance of the Ogun I Command will continue to be measured not only by the volume of goods intercepted, but also by its ability to make the Idiroko corridor safer, more compliant and more conducive to legitimate economic activity.
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