Kwara Customs Intercepts Tramadol, Rice, Petrol, Other Items Worth ₦604m, Records ₦7.9bn Revenue
The Kwara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of prohibited and illegal products, including tramadol, foreign rice, petrol, and other items with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦604,333,592.
The seizures include 80 bales and six sacks of used clothing intercepted along the Ogbomoso/Jebba axis with a DPV of ₦32,300,000; 6,875 litres of petrol intercepted along the Bukuro/Okuta/Chikanda axis worth ₦2,750,000; 3,396 packs of Tramadol (100mg) intercepted along the Okuta axis valued at ₦50,946,000; and 14 bags of Basmati Rice (5kg each) intercepted along the Bode-Saadu Expressway with a DPV of ₦350,000.
Others are 6,705 cartons of foreign spaghetti intercepted along the Bode-Saadu axis valued at ₦201,150,000; 270 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each) intercepted across various locations worth ₦25,245,000; one Toyota Highlander (2025 model) intercepted along the Bode-Saadu Expressway valued at ₦214,000,000; and one Dodge Charger SXT (2018 model) intercepted along the Lagos/Kwara Highway, Eyankorin, with a DPV of ₦77,592,592.
The Command also recorded ₦7,978,338,031.21 in revenue under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi.
DC Ogundeyi disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday, noting that since assuming duty as Customs Area Controller on December 17, 2025, the event marked his fourth press engagement.
He explained that the Command has consistently utilised the platform to provide factual and transparent updates on its operations, specifically its resolute efforts to suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade, protect federal revenue and safeguard national security.
He stressed that the Command would never become a safe haven or transit corridor for illicit cross-border trade, saying its stance remains uncompromising.
Ogundeyi stated that the Command’s officers maintain an active and vigilant presence across all identified channels and vulnerable corridors, driven by actionable intelligence, robust patrol operations and seamless synergy with sister security agencies.
The Acting CAC also clarified that the seizure of food products should not be misinterpreted as opposition by the Nigeria Customs Service to legitimate food availability for Nigerians.
“Rather, our mandate is to enforce compliance with the laws governing cross-border trade. When goods are moved through unapproved routes, bypass regulatory checks, or lack proper documentation, the Service is legally mandated to intervene,” he explained.
DC Ogundeyi emphasised that the illegal influx of foreign food products through porous borders undermines Federal Government policies aimed at boosting local agricultural production, protecting domestic investments and safeguarding Nigeria’s local value chain.
He noted that the Command’s enforcement actions ensure that compliant, legitimate traders are not priced out by economic saboteurs who bypass established protocols for unlawful gain.
According to him, the interceptions reflect the dynamic nature of cross-border criminality, adding that smugglers continuously alter their tactics, ranging from diverting critical energy resources like petrol to trafficking dangerous pharmaceuticals and uncustomed luxury vehicles.
On the pharmaceutical threat, Ogundeyi said the seizure of 3,396 packs of Tramadol (100mg), valued at over ₦50.9 million, highlights the critical role of border security in public health. He warned that the unregulated entry of controlled substances poses severe risks to national security and public safety.
Regarding petroleum product diversion, he pointed out that intercepting 6,875 litres of PMS guards against the illegal siphoning of strategic national supplies meant for domestic consumption into illicit border markets.
“Excise activities continue to serve as our primary revenue driver. During the period under review, the Command generated a total revenue of ₦7,978,338,031.21 (Seven Billion, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Thirty-One Naira, Twenty-One Kobo),” he said.
The Acting CAC attributed the milestone to the Command’s commitment to maximising revenue for the Federal Government while maintaining a balanced operational focus on trade facilitation and national security.
He disclosed that the achievements are rooted in intelligence-led operations. He commended the Command’s Intelligence Unit and Customs Police Unit, particularly acknowledging the enhanced momentum under its new leadership, as well as the resilient officers and men of the Kwara Area Command for their dedication across vast and challenging terrains.
DC Ogundeyi also expressed gratitude to sister security agencies, stating that trans-border crime cannot be fought in isolation and that inter-agency cooperation remains central to the Command’s tactical execution.
He equally appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his strategic direction and constant support to the Command.
He urged members of the public, border communities, traditional leaders and commercial transporters to treat border security as a shared responsibility, reiterating that providing timely and credible intelligence remains vital to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic landscape.
Ogundeyi further thanked the media for their commitment to objective journalism, acknowledging that the Command counts on them to continue educating the public on the critical distinction between compliant international trade and illicit smuggling.
He added that legitimate trade would receive the Command’s maximum support, but smuggling would encounter uncompromising enforcement.
