Customs seizes N1.2bn worth of contraband rice, vehicles in Kwara

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has seized contraband goods valued at over N1.2 billion within one month.

The Acting Area Controller of the command, Mr Najeem Ovundeyi, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Ovundeyi said the seizures included 389 bales of second-hand clothing and 108 sacks of used bags, which were intercepted along the Ogbomoso–Eyenkorin expressway.

Other items seized were 6,500 litres of petroleum products intercepted at various patrol bases along the Bukuro border axis, as well as 450 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, intercepted along the Okuta border axis.

He also listed three vehicles among the seizures: a new 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser VX, a new 2025 Lexus LX 600 intercepted around Bode Saadu in Moro Local Government Area, and a Mercedes-Benz GLE350 (2016 model) intercepted along the Okuta axis in Baruten Local Government Area.

In addition, 170 pieces of used tyres were seized during the period under review.

Ovundeyi noted that the seized vehicles are currently under detention for further investigation and necessary action.

He stated that the total duty paid value (DPV) of all the seized items is estimated at N1,219,209,369.

According to him, the briefing was organised to formally present the seizures recorded by the command within less than a month of his assumption of office.

“These achievements underscore the unwavering commitment of the officers and men of the Kwara Area Command to the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service, which include revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and facilitation of legitimate trade,” he said.

Ovundeyi added that the command is operating strictly in line with the Customs Act 2023, guided by professionalism, intelligence-driven operations, and zero tolerance for compromise.

“I am pleased to report that these directives have already begun to yield positive results.

“Within this short period, the command has successfully intercepted various consignments of prohibited and improperly imported goods through diligent patrols, credible intelligence, and sustained enforcement operations across our area of responsibility,” he added.