Customs Intercepts Police Uniforms, Pistol, Explosives In Oyo
The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 573 Nigeria Police Force crests, 92 yards of police camouflage uniform fabric, a pistol, six pistol magazines, a pump-action magazine and 60 detonating cords during its anti-smuggling operations in August 2026.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Wale Moses Adewole, disclosed this on Thursday in Ibadan while briefing journalists on the command’s revenue performance and anti-smuggling activities.
He said the police-related materials raised serious security concerns, as unauthorised possession and movement of security uniforms and insignia could facilitate impersonation or unauthorised access to restricted areas.
Other items seized included 2,012 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 550 bags of 25kg foreign parboiled rice, 2,440 wraps of cannabis sativa, 1,150 used tyres, 101 used compressors, 48 packs of 225mg tramadol, used clothing and shoes, 5,000 litres of PMS, foreign vegetable oil, sugar, 17 used vehicles, 10 means of conveyance and 10 containers of mercury.
The seizures had a cumulative Duty Paid Value of N4,106,951,689.
Adewole said the interceptions were part of the command’s statutory responsibility to prevent the smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods and protect national security and the economy.
He also warned about the risks associated with the uncontrolled movement of mercury and other hazardous materials, saying the command would sustain intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with sister security agencies.
On revenue generation, Adewole disclosed that the command generated N65,661,343,026.94 between January and August 2026, representing a 13.88 per cent increase over the N57,656,161,990.24 recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
He attributed the improvement to enhanced revenue collection, trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement and improved compliance, while assuring legitimate businesses that the command would continue to balance enforcement with trade facilitation.
