IDIROKO – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has announced the seizure of contraband goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N1.4 billion, which includes a luxury 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost valued at N905 million.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, unveiled the seizures during a press conference held on Thursday at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko. He described the attempt to smuggle the high-value luxury vehicle into the country as “shocking” and stated that investigations into the matter are ongoing.
The array of intercepted items paints a picture of diverse smuggling activities in the region. Alongside the Rolls-Royce, the command confiscated a Honda Accord, seven trucks loaded with 4,424 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50 sacks and 1,936 parcels of cannabis sativa, 105 used tyres, 21 bales and three sacks of used clothing, and 6,400 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
According to Otunla, the cumulative value of these seizures amounts to N1,401,531,923.95.
“The seizures with a DPV of N1,401,531,923.95, represent a significant economic loss to the smugglers, but a huge gain to our national economy and security,” Comptroller Otunla stated.
In a positive development for legitimate trade, the Comptroller also reported a boost in revenue collection. He revealed that the command generated a total of N45,054,191.00 in July 2025, which is significantly higher than the N35,327,852.00 recorded in the same month of 2024. This represents a commendable increase of 27.47 per cent.
Otunla credited the command’s successes to a multi-faceted strategy involving “a stronger compliance drive, tighter border surveillance, and active engagement with stakeholders.”
Regarding the seized illicit drugs, the Customs boss confirmed that the cannabis sativa would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution. He emphasized that the Command has been working closely with other security agencies in line with government directives, as part of a broader effort to “safeguard public health, strengthen national security, and protect Nigerian youths from the harmful effects of hard drugs.”
The Comptroller issued a stern warning to smugglers, declaring that the Ogun I Command “would not relent in its fight against smuggling.”
This show of force comes amidst serious allegations of corruption within the service. In July, some NCS personnel were accused of aiding and abetting the smuggling of rice into Lagos State.
Top sources told SaharaReporters that the contraband rice was brought from the Benin Republic and smuggled into Badagry Waterside, with areas like the Marina Customs base in Badagry, Iya Afin, and Erekiti being the first ports of call for the goods.
The allegations were made by different rice dealers who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity.
“There are lots of rice smuggling going on from Cotonou into Nigeria and the Customs is aware; yet they are doing nothing about it,” a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the development told SaharaReporters.
Another source stated that smugglers paid as much as N250,000 per boat to corrupt officials of the Nigerian Customs to allow the illegal activity to continue.
“Each boat contains between 120–150 bags of rice and each boat is taxed at N250,000 by the corrupt Customs officials, making it possible for the contraband rice to fill the Nigerian market,” the source said.
Videos and pictures obtained exclusively by SaharaReporters show smugglers on boats bringing rice into the country.
A respondent who spoke on the development lamented the impact of such smuggling on those doing legitimate business.
“This Cotonou Rice can be found in parts of Lagos, for instance, go to Sango, you will find it. If we who sell local rice face this issue, how are we expected to survive? The government says they are not aware that these smugglers are having free access into the country using waterways.
“We are pleading that something should be done about the illegal and contraband importation,” the source said.
This activity reportedly continued despite the presence of a Customs boat stationed at the exact location.
