The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara State Command, has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling smuggling activities and strengthening border security despite the continued closure of the Nigeria-Benin Republic border since 2019.
Speaking on Thursday at a press briefing, Comptroller Najeem Ogundeyi, expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs as well as the entire management of the service for their continued support.
He also commended the cordial relationship between the command and other sister security agencies, noting that collaboration has remained instrumental in the fight against smuggling and other cross-border crimes.
As part of efforts to recognise dedication and professionalism within the service, the Comptroller utilised the occasion to reward officers for their unwavering commitments to duty.
He disclosed that despite the border closure, the command has continued to generate revenue through anti-smuggling operations. According to him, the command generated about ₦3,895,333,182.94 in the first quarter of 2026 through anti-smuggling activities.
The Comptroller further revealed that since the beginning of 2026, the command had successfully carried out operations across the Maleate axis, Gurumi axis, Okuta axis, Alapa axis and other flashpoints within the state.
Items intercepted during the operations include 155 bags of 50kg foreign rice valued at ₦52,447,500. 70 pieces of secondhand tyres valued at ₦1 million, forty one thousand ,480 kegs of vegetable oil valued at 27 million, 170 thousand. 3,697 packages of macaroni valued at 110 million,910 thousand; 297 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at ₦2,370,000, 45 kilograms of cannabis valued at 4 million and 90 thousand naira,376 kilogram of tramadol valued at 564 thousand naira, as well as 19 jerrycans of petroleum products valued at ₦792,400.39 among many others.
He added that from March 2026 till date, the command recorded nine different seizures with a cumulative duty paid value put at over ₦204 million.
The Comptroller assured members of the public that the service would continue to deploy strategic measures and intelligence gathering to curb smuggling activities across the state. He also appealed to members of the public to provide timely and useful information that would assist security agencies in carrying out their duties effectively.
He warned that smugglers and other offenders arrested in connection with illegal activities would be prosecuted accordingly.
The command also reiterated its collaboration with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and other relevant agencies in ensuring that harmful and prohibited items do not find their way into the country.
The conference ended with the official handover of the seized cannabis substances to the Kwara State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and necessary action.
