Kwara Customs seizes N604.3m tramadol, rice, spaghetti, luxury vehicles

By Ahmed Olayinka

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has intercepted consignments of Tramadol, foreign rice, spaghetti, petroleum products, used clothing and two luxury vehicles with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N604.33 million, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

The Acting Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Ilorin, saying the seizures were recorded across various operational corridors in the state.

Ogundeyi said the seizures resulted from intelligence-led operations and sustained patrols aimed at preventing Kwara from being used as a transit route for illicit cross-border trade.

According to him, the seized items included 80 bales and six sacks of used clothing valued at N32.3 million, intercepted along the Ogbomoso/Jebba axis.

The Command also seized 6,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth N2.75 million along the Bukuro/Okuta/Chikanda axis, while 3,396 packets of 100mg Tramadol, valued at N50.946 million, were intercepted along the Okuta axis.

Other seized items comprised 14 bags of 5kg Basmati rice valued at N350,000, 6,705 cartons of foreign spaghetti worth N201.15 million and 270 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice valued at N25.245 million.

The Customs Command further intercepted a 2025 Toyota Highlander valued at N214 million along the Bode-Saadu Expressway and a 2018 Dodge Charger SXT valued at N77.593 million along the Lagos-Kwara highway in the Eyankorin area.

Ogundeyi said the seizures brought the combined DPV of the eight categories of intercepted items to N604,333,592.

He described the seizure of Tramadol as a major public health and security concern, warning that the illegal importation of controlled pharmaceutical substances could have serious consequences for society.

“The seizure of 3,396 packets of Tramadol (100mg), valued at over N50.9 million, highlights the critical role of border security in public health,” he said.

On the petroleum products, the Acting Controller said the interception was aimed at preventing the diversion of PMS meant for domestic consumption into illicit cross-border markets.

He also explained that the enforcement against foreign food products was not intended to create food shortages but to ensure compliance with laws regulating international trade.

“The seizure of food products should not be misinterpreted as an opposition by the Nigeria Customs Service to legitimate food availability for Nigerians,” Ogundeyi said.

He explained that goods moved through unapproved routes, bypassed regulatory checks or lacked proper documentation would be intercepted in line with the Service’s mandate.

Ogundeyi added that the illegal influx of foreign food products could undermine government efforts to promote local agricultural production and protect domestic investments.

Meanwhile, the Command generated N7,978,338,031.21 in revenue during the period under review.

The Acting Controller attributed the operational successes to intelligence gathering, effective patrols and collaboration with sister security agencies, noting that smugglers continued to devise new methods of evading enforcement.

He commended officers and men of the Command, particularly the Intelligence Unit and Customs Police Unit, for their contributions to the seizures.

Ogundeyi also appealed to border communities, traditional rulers, transporters and other stakeholders to support the fight against smuggling by providing credible information to security agencies.

“Our position remains absolute: Legitimate trade will receive our maximum support, but smuggling will encounter uncompromising enforcement,” he said.