The Nigeria Customs Service says its Ogun I Command has handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw cannabis satiate to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
The seizures were among a wider collection of goods displayed by the command on Thursday, 13 August, as Customs outlined its enforcement and revenue activities in the Ogun border area.
Customs Comptroller Olukayode Afeni said the drug seizures showed the scale of trafficking challenges facing border communities and stressed that Customs could not tackle the problem alone.
“These are not just numbers; these are millions of doses of devastation that would have otherwise flooded our communities, fueled violent crime, and ruined the lives of our youth,” Mr Afeni said.
“Our mandate as an enforcement agency is clear, intercept, seize, and arrest. However, the specialized war against drug abuse and trafficking is a relay race.
The true victory lies in seamless inter agency collaboration as no single agency can secure our nation alone.”
The drugs were formally handed over to the NDLEA's Idiroko Special Command in line with Customs' stated procedures and legal requirements.
The NDLEA is expected to take forward the investigation into the seized substances and any suspected trafficking networks connected to them.
What was seized?
Alongside the narcotics, the command displayed 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 30 bags of foreign sugar and 67 bales of second-hand clothing.
It also listed 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, 11,450 litres of petrol in kegs, 1,750 litres of petrol in drums, 30 kegs of diesel, 100 bags of fertiliser and 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers.
Other seized items included 3,760 new tops, 85 fire extinguishers, 480 cartons of Pure Haven drinks, 53 packages of oats, 47 cartons of cosmetics, 36 packages of hair accessories, three packages of surgical shoes and 127 new purses.
Customs put the combined duty-paid value of the displayed seizures at N3.57bn.
However, a duty-paid value is not the same as the amount of money Customs collected from the seizures.
It represents the assessed value of the goods for customs purposes.
Customs links drug trafficking to wider crime
Mr Afeni said Customs statistics showed that Ghana Loud was associated with serious health and social risks.
He claimed the high profit margins from the drug trade also help finance violent criminal networks, human trafficking and the illegal movement of arms.
The controller said traffickers were increasingly targeting young people and warned that drug trafficking could damage schools and communities.
However, Customs did not provide independent evidence at the briefing to substantiate the specific links it cited between Ghana Loud and the financing of violent crime, human trafficking or arms trafficking.
Mr Afeni described the smuggling of cannabis and other variants, including Ghana Loud and Colorado, as a threat to both public health and the economy.
“It destroys lives, breeds violence in our neighbourhoods, and undermines our economy.
Our agencies are fully coordinated, and we will prosecute anyone involved in the importation these illegal substances to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
He also accused neighbouring countries of cultivating drugs for the Nigerian market.
“It is bitter irony that foreign neighbouring countries happily cultivate these drugs for export, targeting Nigeria’s active market while refusing to consume them themselves. We shall bring them down to their knees,” he warned.
That claim would require evidence on the origin of the seized substances and the specific trafficking networks involved.
The seizure itself does not establish where the drugs were cultivated or who produced them.N90m collected in July
Beyond enforcement, the Ogun I Command reported collecting N90.07m in July 2026.Afeni said the money came from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, petrol-related charges and other fees.
“The fight against drug smuggling is a collective responsibility. The Ogun I command, under my leadership remains resolute in its commitment to securing our borders and safeguarding our nation’s future,” he said.
“Ogun I command under my watch has handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 Sacks of raw cannabis satiate to NDLEA Idiroko special command.”
He added: “Furthermore, I am pleased to inform you that the Command, for the month of July 2026 collected revenue to the tune of Ninety Million Sixty-Six Thousand one hundred and sixty-four Naira (N90,066,164.00) as baggage assessments, auctions of perishable items, PMS and other charges.”
The revenue figure is separate from the N3.57bn duty-paid value attached to the displayed seizures.
Export activity
The command also reported an export volume of 10,110 metric tonnes during the period under review.
It put the Free On Board value of those exports at N2.59bn, with white talc, crushed thermal coal and compressed natural gas among the main products.
FOB value refers to the value of exported goods at the point of shipment and does not necessarily represent the final value received by exporters after transport, insurance and other costs.
Customs did not provide a comparable previous-period figure in the statement, making it difficult to determine from the announcement alone whether export activity has increased or declined.
Why the seizures matter
The Ogun-I border corridor is an important route for movement between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
That makes effective customs enforcement significant for both trade and efforts to prevent the movement of prohibited goods.
But seizures alone do not show whether trafficking is increasing or decreasing.
The more important test will be what happens after the handover: whether investigations identify suppliers and trafficking networks, whether suspects are prosecuted, and whether convictions follow where evidence supports criminal charges.
The NDLEA will therefore play a key role in determining the next stage of the drug cases.
Mr Afeni urged traditional rulers, youth leaders and residents to report suspected smuggling activities.
“To the general public and consumers, we appeal to your patriotism.
Let us support our local industries.
By consuming locally produced rice, vegetable oil, local wine and pasta, you are investing in our economy, securing jobs, and ensuring food security.”
He also warned smugglers that Customs would continue to seize prohibited goods and vehicles used in their transportation.
“To the syndicates and smugglers who think they can use Ogun I command as a transit route for poison, hear this clearly.
We are adapting faster than you are. If you do not trade legitimately, we will continue to seize your goods, impound your vehicles, and send you to prison.
”The command also praised its officers and Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for what it described as support for its operations.
The immediate focus now shifts to the NDLEA investigation into the seized drugs, while Customs faces the broader challenge of showing that seizures, prosecutions and revenue collection are translating into sustained reductions in smuggling along the Ogun border.
