In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, on Wednesday, July 3, 2025, handed over a large consignment of cannabis sativa worth ₦172.9 million and a suspect to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Command’s headquarters in Idiroko.
The handover, presided over by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, marks a significant achievement in the fight against smuggling and illicit drug trafficking along the Nigeria–Benin Republic border.
Speaking at the press briefing, Comptroller Otunla disclosed that on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at approximately 12:05 am, Customs operatives, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number EPE-595-LA. The truck was driven by 39-year-old William Asare, a resident of Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Upon initial examination, the vehicle was suspected to be carrying prohibited items. A deeper inspection revealed that 2,693 parcels of cannabis sativa — weighing 1,450kg — were cleverly concealed within fabricated compartments of the truck,” Otunla stated.
He confirmed that the seizure was carried out in accordance with Sections 6, 226, and 250 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Otunla noted that the suspect and the illicit substance were being handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, having received the approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs and Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.
“This successful operation is a significant step in preventing the circulation of harmful substances in our communities, particularly among our youth,” he said. “It also reinforces our commitment to safeguarding national security and combating all forms of cross-border crimes.”
The Customs boss also used the occasion to congratulate the CGC on his recent election as Chairperson of the WCO Council — a position which he said reflects global confidence in his leadership and ongoing reforms within the Service.
Otunla further revealed that the Ogun I Command recently took delivery of 13 new operational vehicles, allocated by the CGC to boost operational efficiency.
Present at the handover ceremony were representatives of the NDLEA, heads of other security agencies, Customs senior officers, and members of the press.
The event concluded with the symbolic handover of the seized cannabis and suspect to NDLEA officials for further action.
Ogun Customs Hands Over ₦172.9 Million Worth of Cannabis, Suspect To NDLEA
