Customs seizes 2,593 parcels of cannabis sativa concealed under truck

Operatives of the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted and seized 2,693 parcels of cannabis sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, smuggled through the Idiroko border into the country. Briefing newsmen on the seizure at the NSC Sentry Post, Idiroko, the Customs area comptroller in charge of the Ogun 1 […]

Operatives of the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted and seized 2,693 parcels of cannabis sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, smuggled through the Idiroko border into the country.

Briefing newsmen on the seizure at the NSC Sentry Post, Idiroko, the Customs area comptroller in charge of the Ogun 1 Area Command, Godwin Otunla, said the illicit substance, which weighed 1,450kg, was concealed inside a false compartment fabricated at the bottom of a Mercedes Benz truck.

Otunla, who described the seizure as another remarkable success by the command, said the operatives achieved the feat by meticulously deploying strategies tailored to counter emerging smuggling trends.

The Customs boss explained that operatives of the command, on June 29, 2025, at 0005 hours during an intelligence-driven operation, intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number EPE-595-LA. 

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He put the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized illicit substances at N172,920,000.

He said the truck was suspected to be conveying prohibited items, but further inspection revealed that several parcels of cannabis sativa had been “ingeniously concealed within fabricated compartments, also referred to as a false bottom of the truck.”

He disclosed that the vehicle was driven by one Mr William Asare, a 39-year-old Nigerian and resident of Mobil, Challenge Area, Ibadan, Oyo State. 

He noted that the successful interception of the large quantity of illicit drugs was a significant step in preventing the circulation of the harmful substance in communities, as well as safeguarding national security. 

Otunla, who later handed the seized drugs and the suspect over to the officials of the Idiroko special command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation, reiterated his command’s commitment to intensifying efforts against smuggling and cross-border crimes.

In his response, the area commander, NDLEA special command, Idiroko, Ekundayo Williams, commended Ogun 1 area command of the NCS for its sustained fight against smuggling, particularly drugs.