Customs Seize N2.53bn Worth of Contraband, Generate N14.7bn in Oyo/Osun
Oru Leonard
IBADAN — The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted smuggled goods worth over N2.53 billion and generated N14.7 billion in revenue within the review period.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller W.M. Adewole, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Command’s operational headquarters in Ibadan.
Adewole said the seizures were made through intensified surveillance, credible intelligence, and coordinated patrol operations across Oyo and Osun states, in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Items intercepted include 1,603 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 123 bales and 18 sacks of used clothing, 88 sacks of used shoes, and 1,351 pieces of used tyres. Others are 206 used compressors, 1,144 wraps of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 3,300 packs and 2,140 sachets of tramadol, as well as 692 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) equivalent to 17,300 litres.
The Command also seized 2,270 packs of foreign textiles, 20 bags of sugar, several vehicles, and multiple means of conveyance used in smuggling operations.
According to Adewole, the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items stands at N2,531,091,846, underscoring the scale of anti-smuggling operations carried out by the Command.
On revenue performance, he revealed that the Command generated N14,745,741,806.05 during the period under review, representing a 46.22 percent increase compared to N10.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
He attributed the improved revenue to efforts aimed at blocking leakages, enforcing compliance with existing laws, and facilitating legitimate trade.
The Acting Controller issued a stern warning to smugglers and economic saboteurs, stating that the Command would not relent in its enforcement drive.
“We are fully committed to enforcing government fiscal policies and protecting the nation’s economy,” he said.
Adewole also called on members of the public to support Customs operations by providing timely intelligence, noting that compliance with import and export regulations remains the best way to avoid sanctions.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his support and strategic leadership, while also appreciating traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the two states for their collaboration in curbing smuggling activities.
The Command, he assured, remains committed to professionalism, transparency, and integrity in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.
