By Innocent Orok
In barely two weeks after the Ogun 1 Customs Area Command , Idiroko, Ogun State held a press briefing which highlighted the achievements of the Command in anti-smuggling operations and revenue generation.
The Command has resolve to continue combating smuggling activities within Ogun State. According to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla
“I am pleased to inform you that, in line with this commitment and through sustained enforcement efforts backed by credible intelligence, the Command has recorded yet another remarkable success.
By meticulously deploying strategies tailored to counter emerging smuggling trends, our operatives achieved this feat within a matter of days.
Giving account of the latest Command’s achievements, Comptroller Otunla said:
“On Sunday, 29 June 2025, at about 0005 hours, our operatives, during an intelligence-driven operation, intercepted a Mercedes Benz Truck with registration number EPE-595-LA. The vehicle was driven by one Mr William Asare, a 39-year-old Nigerian resident of Mobil, Challenge area, Ibadan, Oyo State. Upon initial examination, the truck was suspected to be conveying prohibited items. Further inspection revealed that several parcels of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as marijuana, had been ingeniously concealed within fabricated compartments — also referred to as a false bottom — of the truck.
‘In accordance with Section 226 of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act, 2023, the truck was immediately moved to the Command’s headquarters in Idiroko for further investigation. A comprehensive physical examination revealed a total of 2,693 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,450kg. Other enabling provisions of the NCS Act 2023 that guided this operation include Sections 6 and 250. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizure amount to N172,920,000.
‘The successful interception of this large quantity of illicit drugs is a significant step in preventing the circulation of these harmful substances in our communities, especially among our youth and in safeguarding national security. I wish to reaffirm the Command’s commitment to intensifying efforts against smuggling and cross-border crimes.”
Comptroller Otunla said he has secured the approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) and Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, “I will now hand over the seized cannabis and the suspect to the NDLEA, Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and necessary action.
He congratulated CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR on his election as the WCO Council Chairman.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to congratulate the CGC on his well-deserved election as the Chairperson of the WCO Council, comprising 186 member countries. This is a prestigious global recognition of his visionary leadership and commitment to reform and modernization in the Nigeria Customs Service. I am also pleased to announce that the Command has just taken delivery of 13 operational vehicles, generously allocated by the CGC to boost our operational capacity. We are deeply grateful to him and the entire management team for their continued support and encouragement”, he said.
