Customs seize N417m Range Rover, 3,893 cannabis parcels in Ogun - Punch Newspapers
The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized contraband with a total Duty Paid Value of N2.469bn between August and September, including a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography P530 valued at N417.01m. The acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday during a press conference at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State. Afeni said the seizures were made as part of the command’s efforts to combat smuggling, secure the nation’s borders and facilitate legitimate trade. He said other seized items included 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3,893 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1.878 tonnes, 428 pneumatic tyres, 8,675 litres of Premium Motor Spirit stored in kegs, 24 bales of second-hand clothing, four sacks of used shoes and 500 litres of diesel. Afeni said the Range Rover was one of the major highlights of the command’s recent seizures. “Ladies and gentlemen, one of the highlights of today’s briefing is the seizure of a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography P530 worth N417,011,982,” he said. He added that the total DPV of the seizures recorded during the period stood at N2,469,153,523.68. According to him, the seizures demonstrated the command’s “uncompromising zero-tolerance policy for border economic sabotage.” Afeni disclosed that, as part of inter-agency collaboration, the command would hand over the 3,893 parcels of cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s Idiroko Special Command for further investigation. He said border security was a collective responsibility, adding that the command had, over the past 10 months, hosted high-level joint engagements and security meetings to harmonise operations along the Ogun border corridors. Abuja court jails S’African woman 40 years for drug trafficking Meth lab: Ebonyi community backs NDLEA, seeks prosecution 120 years on, 105 grid collapses: Why Nigeria still can’t keep the lights on “We deepened operational synergies with the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA and environmental management agencies to counter cross-border crimes effectively,” he said. Afeni said the command had also sustained dialogue with traditional rulers, youth leaders and border community associations to build mutual trust and reduce hostility during enforcement operations. He added that the command’s activities extended beyond customs enforcement to corporate social responsibility and environmental initiatives aimed at supporting host communities. The acting controller attributed the recent seizures to the dedication, resilience and integrity of officers and men of the command, as well as the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team. Afeni commended the officers for their commitment to duty despite challenging operating conditions. He also thanked host communities, traditional rulers and media partners for their cooperation and support for the command’s activities. The acting controller warned individuals involved in smuggling and other illegal border activities that the command would intensify enforcement against them. “To the perpetrators of economic sabotage and illegal border activities, our message remains unequivocal: Ogun I Command will continue to be a hostile zone for uncustomed goods and illicit trade. “We remain resolute in safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests and national security,” he declared. Taiwo Bankole
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