The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, Idiroko, has disclosed that it has intercepted and seized 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of cannabis sativa between January and July 2026. The seizures were made in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Idiroko Special Command. The collaboration is part of the Nigeria Customs Service's anti-smuggling campaign and inter-agency responsibilities.
The Nigeria Customs Service, under Deputy Comptroller Olukayode O. Afeni, has adopted a strategic approach to inter-agency collaboration. This approach aims to enhance national security and progress through symbiotic relationships among federal agencies. The collaboration has been commended by the NDLEA, which received the seized parcels of hard drugs and sacks of cannabis sativa.
In July 2026, the Command recorded an export volume of over 10,000 metric tons with a Free on Board (FOB) value of N2,594,078,654. The Command also generated N90,066,164.00 for the government from baggage assessment, auction of perishable items, petrol (PMS), and other charges. The seizures made by the Command include 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, and 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indian hemp.
The Nigeria Customs Service has warned that smuggling poses grave dangers to the nation, including undermining local farmers and agricultural investors and jeopardizing the nation's drive for food sufficiency. The Service has also warned that hard drugs and cannabis cause psychosis, cardiovascular crises, rapid addiction, and mental health degradation, breed violence, destroy lives, and undermine the economy.
The high profits from the illicit trade fund violent criminal networks, human trafficking, and arms proliferation, while traffickers aggressively target young people, destabilizing educational institutions. The Nigeria Customs Service has stressed that victory in the war against drug abuse and trafficking lies in inter-agency collaboration, as no single agency can secure the nation alone.
The Nigeria Customs Service has seized items worth N3,574,435,248.08 in July 2026, including 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 11,450 liters of petrol in kegs, and 100 bags of fertilizer. The Service has also dismantled smugglers' networks, intercepted contraband, and disrupted their supply lines through intelligence networking, technological integration, and the patriotism of frontline officers.
The Nigeria Customs Service has assured that anti-smuggling operations will be sustained to ensure more seizures and enforcement of federal government policies. The Service aims to prevent the devastation that would flood communities, fuel violent crime, and ruin lives. The collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA is a welcome initiative that enhances national security and progress.
Key points
- The Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA have collaborated to seize multi-million-naira parcels of hard drugs and sacks of cannabis sativa at the Idiroko border.
- The seizures were made between January and July 2026, and include 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of cannabis sativa.
- The collaboration aims to enhance national security and progress through symbiotic relationships among federal agencies.
