By Chigozie Daniel
The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intensified its crackdown on smuggling, intercepting a fresh consignment of 1,202 kegs of vegetable oil valued at ₦120.2 million in two coordinated operations.
The seizures, executed on March 19 and 24, 2026, were driven by intelligence-led surveillance, underscoring the Command’s sharpened resolve to dismantle illicit trade networks operating along the Idiroko corridor.
Announcing the development, the Command said the operation forms part of a sustained offensive against practices that undermine local industries, particularly domestic vegetable oil producers struggling against unfair competition.
Officials noted that removing the contraband from circulation would not only stabilise the market but also protect jobs and encourage investment in Nigeria’s agro-processing sector.
The latest bust follows earlier interceptions, including 2,539 kegs seized on March 11, 2026, and another 2,090 kegs confiscated in December 2025, pointing to a persistent but increasingly challenged smuggling ring.
In a parallel development, the Command handed over 285 sacks of mica stones valued at ₦104.7 million to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, reinforcing inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding national resources.
The minerals, intercepted during a routine anti-smuggling patrol, were said to have been destined for illegal export, bypassing regulatory frameworks and denying the government critical revenue.
Speaking at the handover in Abeokuta, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Oladapo Afeni, described the illicit trade in solid minerals as a threat to both economic stability and national security.
Represented by Assistant Comptroller Edozie Onyeasor, Afeni declared the Command an “impenetrable wall” against the plunder of Nigeria’s natural wealth, stressing a unified government approach to enforcement.
Receiving the items, officials of the Ministry commended the Command’s vigilance, noting that the mica would undergo further analysis and be captured in the national mineral database as part of ongoing sector reforms.
Meanwhile, the Command reported a surge in export performance for March 2026, recording 277.8 metric tonnes valued at $383,100, a sharp rise from 20 metric tonnes worth $104,600 in March 2025, highlighting improved trade facilitation and tighter border controls.