The Ogun I Area Command says it intercepted thousands of cannabis parcels, foreign rice, petrol, fertiliser and other prohibited goods between June 24 and August 13.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted contraband with a combined duty-paid value of N3.57 billion in an intensified crackdown on smuggling and cross-border crimes in the state.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday while parading the seized items at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State.

Afeni said the seizures were made between June 24 and August 13, 2026, following the deployment of intelligence gathering, technology and intensified enforcement operations across the command’s areas of responsibility.

Among the items seized were 6,035 parcels of cannabis, 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 1,750 litres of PMS stored in drums, 100 bags of fertiliser, second-hand clothing, cosmetics and other prohibited goods.

According to Afeni, the seizures underscore the command’s determination to prevent smugglers from exploiting Nigeria’s border corridors to move prohibited and harmful goods into the country.

He particularly warned that the smuggling of foreign rice was hurting local farmers, businesses and job creation, while the trafficking of cannabis posed a serious threat to communities and public safety.

The Customs chief also disclosed that the command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, since January 2026.

He stressed the importance of sustained cooperation among security agencies in tackling drug trafficking, smuggling and other forms of cross-border criminality.

Afeni issued a stern warning to smugglers and criminal syndicates operating along Ogun’s border corridors, saying the command would intensify its enforcement activities.

“We are adapting faster than you are,” he warned, adding that Customs would continue to seize contraband, impound vehicles and prosecute offenders.

He urged residents of border communities, traditional rulers and youth leaders to support security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and activities that could facilitate smuggling and other crimes.

Afeni also appealed to Nigerians to patronise locally produced goods, particularly locally produced rice, saying increased patronage would support domestic industries, create employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s food security.

The latest seizures come as the Nigeria Customs Service continues to intensify operations along Nigeria’s land borders to curb the movement of prohibited goods and protect legitimate businesses from unfair competition caused by smuggling.