PICTORIAL: Customs Seizes N1.2bn Contraband Rice, Vehicles, Others In Kwara

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has within a month seized contrand goods and other items worth N1.2bn.

The acting area controller of Customs, Kwara Area Command, Mr Najeem Ovundeyi, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

He listed the seized items to include 389 bales of second-hand clothing, 108 sacks of used bags, which were intercepted around Ogbomoso-Eyenkorin expressway.

Others included 3. 6,500 litres of petroleum product intercepted at various patrol bases along border lines in Bukuro axis, 450 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each intercepted at various patrol bases along border lines in Okuta axis, three vehicles; new Toyota Landcruiser jeep VX, 2025 model,
new Lexus jeep LX 600, 2025 model intercepted around Bode Saadu in Moro local government area of Kwara State while a Mercedez Benz GLE350 2016 Model was intercepted around Okuta axis of Baruten local government area of the State.

Ogundeyi added that 170 pieces of used tyres were also seized during the period under review.

He said the seized vehicles were under detention for further investigation and action.

“The total duty paid value for the above seizures is put at N1,219,209,369.

“Today’s (Tuesday) briefing is to formally present to the public and relevant stakeholders, the seizures recorded by this Command within less than a month of my assumption of office.

“These achievements underscore the unwavering commitment of the officers and men of Kwara Area Command to the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service, which include revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and facilitation of legitimate trade.

“I made it clear that this Command would operate strictly in line with the Customs Act 2023, guided by professionalism, intelligence-driven operations, and zero tolerance for compromise. I am pleased to report that these directives have already begun to yield positive results.

“Within this short period, the Command has successfully intercepted and seized various consignments of prohibited and improperly imported goods. These seizures were made through diligent patrols, credible intelligence, and sustained enforcement operations across our area of responsibility,” Ogundeyi added.