The Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a truck loaded with 2,693 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as Indian hemp, smuggled into the country through the Idiroko border.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday at the NCS Sentry Post in Idiroko, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, said the seized substances, weighing approximately 1,450kg, were cleverly concealed in a specially constructed false compartment beneath a Mercedes Benz truck.
Describing the seizure as a “remarkable success,” Otunla said the operation was the result of strategic and intelligence-driven efforts aimed at countering evolving smuggling tactics.
“On June 29, 2025, at about 00:05 hours, operatives of the command intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number EPE-595-LA suspected of conveying prohibited items,” Otunla revealed. “A thorough inspection revealed several parcels of Cannabis Sativa ingeniously hidden in fabricated compartments — a false bottom — of the truck.”
According to him, the illicit cargo has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N172,920,000.
He further disclosed that the vehicle was driven by one William Asare, a 39-year-old Nigerian resident of Mobil, Challenge Area in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“In accordance with Section 226 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the truck was immediately moved to the Command’s headquarters in Idiroko for further investigation,” Otunla said. “A comprehensive physical examination revealed a total of 2,693 parcels of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,450kg. Other relevant sections that guided the operation include Sections 6 and 250 of the NCS Act.”
Otunla stressed that the seizure represents a critical step in protecting public health and national security by preventing harmful substances from entering local communities.
The seized drugs and the suspect were subsequently handed over to the Idiroko Special Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Receiving the suspect and the illicit substances, NDLEA Area Commander, Idiroko Special Command, Mr. Ekundayo Williams, commended the Ogun 1 Area Command of the NCS for its continued collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking and cross-border crime.
He assured that the suspect would be prosecuted after the NDLEA concludes its investigation.
