The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, said it has recorded seizures of smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N1.2 billion within the last month.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC), Naeem Ogundeyi, disclosed this at a press conference held in Ilorin on Tuesday.
He said the seized items were intercepted through sustained patrols and credible intelligence across the Command’s area of responsibility.
Items seized, according to him, include 389 bales of second-hand clothing and 108 sacks of used bags intercepted along the Ogbomosho–Iyankorin Expressway, as well as 6,500 litres of petrol seized at various patrol bases along the Bukuro border axis.
Other seizures, he said, include 450 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each) intercepted along the Okuta border axis, three vehicles, namely a new Toyota Land Cruiser VX (2025 model), a new Lexus LX 600 (2025 model) intercepted around the Bode Saadu area, and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (2016 model), intercepted along the Okuta axis.
Additionally, he stated that 170 pieces of used tyres were seized along the Lagos–Jebba Expressway.
The vehicles are currently under detention for further investigation and necessary action.
“The combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these seizures is estimated at N1,219,209,369, and this clearly demonstrates that smuggling activities will not be tolerated under my watch,” Mr Ogundeyi said.
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Commending the officers and men of the Command, he noted, “The dedication, resilience, and professionalism displayed by our officers, often under challenging conditions, are directly responsible for these successes.”
He warned that the “Kwara Customs Area Command is no longer a safe haven for illegal trade. We will continue to deploy all lawful means to protect the nation’s economy and ensure full compliance with Customs laws.”
He assured that the command would sustain the momentum of enforcement while upholding professionalism and respect for human rights in all its operations.
