The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has handed over 1.878 tonnes of seized cannabis to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for further investigation as part of a wider crackdown on smuggling along the Ogun border.
The cannabis, comprising 3,893 parcels, was among contraband seized by the NCS Ogun I Area Command, with a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦2.469 billion.
Receiving the consignment, the Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, Olasumbo Akande, urged Nigerians to support the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
Akande warned that the Idiroko border would not be allowed to serve as a route for the movement of illicit drugs into Nigeria or to other destinations.
He said the NDLEA, Customs and other sister security agencies would continue to collaborate to prevent the trafficking of hard drugs and other illegal goods through the border.
The handover underscores the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling drug trafficking, particularly along Nigeria’s land borders, where criminal networks attempt to exploit legitimate trade routes to move illicit commodities.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the seizures were recorded through intelligence-led enforcement operations and improved collaboration with other agencies.
Afeni disclosed the seizures on Thursday, September 17, 2026, during a press conference at the Command’s headquarters in Idiroko.
Apart from the cannabis, the items seized included 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 428 pneumatic tyres, 8,675 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 24 bales of second-hand clothing, four sacks of used shoes and 500 litres of diesel.
The Command also intercepted a 2026 Range Rover Sport with a Duty Paid Value of about ₦417 million.
Afeni said the results demonstrated the impact of the Command’s operational strategies and intelligence gathering, adding that Customs would continue to strengthen border security while facilitating legitimate trade.
The interception of nearly two tonnes of cannabis represents more than a seizure of contraband. It removes a substantial quantity of an illicit drug from circulation and highlights the role of border agencies in preventing Nigeria from being used as a transit route for drug trafficking.
For the NDLEA, the handover provides an opportunity to investigate the origin, intended destination and networks behind the consignment, potentially helping authorities move beyond the seizure of drugs to identifying those financing and coordinating the trade.
Both agencies have reaffirmed their commitment to sustained intelligence sharing and joint operations along the Idiroko corridor as they work to disrupt smuggling and drug trafficking networks.
Authorities are also calling on residents and legitimate businesses operating around the border to support enforcement efforts by providing relevant information on suspicious movements and activities.