The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kwara State Command has seized contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N478.17 million, marking a significant interdiction in the state’s ongoing campaign against smuggling. The command also generated over N2.5 billion in excise revenue within a two-month period.
Acting Controller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi announced the seizures during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin. The intercepted items include 1,170 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 44 bags of 50kg imported sugar, 317 jerrycans of petrol, 120 sacks of illegally mined lithium ore, 60 sacks of used clothing, 222 units of used compressors, and 15 units of used tyres.
Ogundeyi stated that these operations reflect a renewed, intelligence-driven strategy focused on coordinated patrols and strategic deployments along known smuggling corridors. He emphasized that the seizures are critical to curbing economic sabotage, protecting legitimate businesses, safeguarding national revenue, and enforcing cross-border trade laws.
“The fight against smuggling is not the responsibility of the Nigeria Customs Service alone; it requires the collective commitment of all stakeholders, including border communities, traders, and the general public,” Ogundeyi said, urging citizens to embrace legitimate trade.
The acting controller warned that Kwara will no longer serve as a safe haven for illegal trade under his leadership. He credited the successes to effective collaboration with sister security and regulatory agencies, as well as support from the Controller General of Customs and media partners.
These developments underscore the NCS’s intensified efforts to secure Nigeria’s economic borders, deter illicit trade, and boost federal revenue through stringent enforcement and inter-agency synergy. The command reiterated its commitment to sustaining the crackdown while calling for continued public partnership to eliminate smuggling networks.
