Nigeria Customs has intensified border enforcement in Kwara, seizing contraband goods worth ₦1.2bn and reaffirming its commitment to anti-smuggling and trade regulation.
The Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a significant operational breakthrough in Kwara State, following the interception of contraband goods and prohibited items valued at over ₦1.2 billion within a single month.
The development highlights renewed momentum in border enforcement and reflects a more intelligence-driven approach to tackling smuggling activities in the region.
Speaking during a media briefing in Ilorin, the Acting Area Controller of the Kwara Area Command, Najeem Ovundeyi, revealed that the seizures were carried out shortly after he assumed office.
He explained that the operations were not accidental but rather the result of deliberate restructuring, stricter supervision, and improved intelligence coordination across border communities.
According to Ovundeyi, the Nigeria Customs command in Kwara intensified patrols along major smuggling routes, particularly those linking border towns to interior markets.
These efforts led to the recovery of large consignments of second-hand clothing, used bags, petroleum products, foreign rice, used tyres, and luxury vehicles illegally imported into the country.
Among the seized items were 389 bales of used clothing and 108 sacks of used bags intercepted along the Ogbomoso–Eyenkorin corridor, a route often exploited by smugglers due to its strategic access to urban centres.
Customs officers also impounded approximately 6,500 litres of petroleum products at patrol bases located along the Bukuro border axis, where illegal fuel movement has remained a recurring challenge.
Further enforcement actions at the Okuta axis resulted in the seizure of 450 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms.
The rice, according to the Command, was smuggled into the country without proper documentation and in violation of Nigeria’s import policies aimed at protecting local rice farmers and food security.
In addition to consumable goods, officers of the Kwara Area Command intercepted three high-value vehicles suspected to have been unlawfully imported.
These include a new Toyota Land Cruiser VX 2025 model and a Lexus LX 600 2025 model, both intercepted around Bode Saadu in Moro Local Government Area.
A Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, 2016 model, was also seized along the Okuta axis of Baruten Local Government Area. A total of 170 used tyres were equally recovered during the operations.
Ovundeyi disclosed that the combined duty paid value of all the seizures stands at ₦1,219,209,369, stressing that the vehicles are currently under investigation in line with standard operating procedures.
He noted that appropriate sanctions would be applied where violations are established.
He described the achievements as a clear signal of the Command’s determination to enforce the provisions of the Customs Act 2023 without compromise.
According to him, professionalism, discipline, and accountability remain central to the operational philosophy of the Nigeria Customs under his leadership.
“This Command is committed to operating strictly within the law, guided by intelligence-led strategies and zero tolerance for corruption,” Ovundeyi stated.
“The results we are seeing today are early indicators that when officers are properly motivated and supervised, positive outcomes naturally follow.”
He added that the success recorded within such a short period underscores the dedication of officers and men of the Kwara Area Command, many of whom work under challenging terrain and security conditions. He praised their resilience and urged them to sustain the tempo.
Beyond enforcement, Ovundeyi emphasized that Nigeria Customs remains focused on balancing its core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and suppression of smuggling.
He explained that while illegal trade is being clamped down on, legitimate importers and traders are encouraged to comply with regulations and take advantage of lawful trade channels.
Stakeholders have described the seizures as a major boost to border security efforts in Kwara State, a region often used as a transit point for contraband heading to other parts of the country.
Analysts believe sustained enforcement could significantly disrupt smuggling networks and improve government revenue in the long term.
As Nigeria Customs continues to strengthen its operational framework nationwide, the Kwara seizures serve as a case study of how leadership, intelligence, and adherence to legal frameworks can translate into measurable success against economic sabotage.
Ireport247news
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