The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted 10,126 parcels of “Ghana Loud” cannabis indica and other prohibited items with a total street value exceeding ₦6.7 billion.
Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller O.O. Afeni, disclosed this at a press briefing at the Idiroko border on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. He revealed that the specialised cannabis alone—weighing approximately 4,627kg—accounts for over ₦5 billion of the total value.
He stated that the Command refined its intelligence tactics following a narcotics handover in March, leading to 73 seizures within 41 days. “We remain resolute in ensuring Ogun State and the nation are hostile to those who seek to undermine our economic stability,” Afeni said.
Seized items include:
· 10,126 parcels of Cannabis Indica (“Ghana Loud”) and 26 sacks of raw Cannabis Sativa
· 1,759 50kg bags of foreign rice and 226 sacks of Basmati rice
· 858 packs of Macaron and 2,701 kegs of vegetable oil (Oki and Turkey, various sizes)
· 14,550 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
· 77 cartons of unregistered Analgin injection and 50 cartons of expired seasoning cubes
· Six live pangolins (handed to relevant agencies)
· 73 bales of secondhand clothing, 205 packs of footwear, organic honey, and two used vehicles
Afeni noted that the Command has removed 26,002 parcels of cannabis from circulation since January, averting potential drug-related crimes and mental health crises. Regarding the seizure of 2,185 kegs of vegetable oil from a single DAF truck on May 5, he warned that unbridled imports are “squeezing out” local refineries and smallholder farmers. “The influx of foreign vegetable oil increases the risk of consuming adulterated oil processed with harmful chemicals and high trans fats,” he cautioned.
Despite enforcement efforts, the Command recorded a steady rise in legitimate trade. Between March 16 and May 12, 2026, it generated ₦125.4 million through baggage assessments and auctions, and facilitated the export of 95 metric tonnes of goods with a Free on Board (FOB) value exceeding ₦1 billion.
Deputy Comptroller Afeni signalled a “new era of digital enforcement,” adding: “Security and trade are two sides of the same coin. Complaints regarding multiple checkpoints have disappeared, replaced by a streamlined corridor for legitimate commerce.”
The Command urged compliant traders to remain steadfast, assuring them of maximum cooperation and a “wide-open door” for consultation and support.
