2027: Customs Alert On Plans To Flood Nigerian Markets With Hard Drugs

The Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko, has alerted that intelligence reports available to the Service suggested that there is a concerted effort by some bad elements within the country to flood the Nigerian markets with hard drugs ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The acting NCS area controller for the command, Oladapo Afeni stated this while handing over the intercepted hard drugs to the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Idiroko Special Command for further investigation, in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration.

He said they have intercepted a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography P530 with a Duty Payable Value (DPV) of over N417 million.

This is just as the command also intercepted 428 parcels of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 1, 878kg, alongside other substantial quantities of contraband, with a total DPV valued at over N2. 469 billion.

He briefed newsmen at the Idiroko Border, where the handing over of the substances took place, particularly on the operational achievements and performance review of the command in the last 34 days, spanning between August and September, 2026.

Speaking against the backdrop of the higher volume of Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and other hard drugs being intercepted by the NCS operatives, thea controller explained that recent happenings in Oyo, Osun and particularly at the Apapa Command of NCS, where over N2 billion worth of Indian hemp was intercepted, were clear signals to the allegation.

“We discussed briefly yesterday that it’s like the number of hard drugs coming into the country is becoming alarming, and it is because of the concerted effort from the bad element that is probably wishing our country to be drowning in drugs.

“It will not happen. We have made Idiroko a no-go area; no passage for drugs. The Nigerian Customs, NDLEA, and other sister security agencies have joined together to say no to hard drugs coming into our country or using our country as a transit route”.

Afeni declared that the relentless anti-smuggling drives of Ogun 1 Area Command dealt severe blows to illicit trade networks operating across Ogun State.

Afeni, however, listed other seized items to include a 1, 204 Bags of foreign parboiled rice; 3, 893 parcels of cannabis indica (1, 878 tonnes);

428 pieces of pneumatic tyres; 8,675 litres of PMS in kegs; 24 bales of second-hand clothing; 4 sacks of used shoes and 500 litres of diesel in kegs, all with a total DPV of the N2, 469, 153, 523: 68.

On trade facilitation and revenue generation drive of command, the Acting Customs Area Controller said,

“Despite prevailing economic challenges along our land borders, the Command has maintained a firm stance on legitimate trade facilitation while ensuring maximum revenue collection”.

While emphasising that the Ogun 1 Area Command under his leadership will continue to strengthen border security, suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade, and deepen stakeholders’ engagement across Ogun State, the customs boss called for a sustained inter-agency collaboration towards tackling smuggling activities.

“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”, Afeni submitted.