Customs intercepts police uniforms, pistol, explosives in Oyo

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By Adeola Badru

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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.

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The Acting Customs Area Controller of the command, 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.

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Adewole said the interception of the police-related materials raised security concerns because of the unauthorised possession and movement of security agency uniforms and insignia.

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He said the materials could potentially be misused for impersonation or unauthorised access to restricted areas.

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“Of particular concern was the interception of police crest and camouflage uniforms. The unauthorised possession and movement of security agency uniforms can create serious security concerns, particularly in view of the prevailing security challenges in the country,” Adewole said.

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He said the command would continue to pay attention to items with potential implications for national security and public safety.

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According to him, the command also intercepted a pistol, six pistol magazines, a pump-action magazine and 60 detonating cords during the period under review.

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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 and 48 packs of 225mg tramadol.

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The list of intercepted goods also included 105 bales and 28 sacks of used clothing, 18 sacks of used shoes, 450 25-litre kegs of Premium Motor Spirit, equivalent to 5,000 litres, 33 three-litre bottles of foreign vegetable oil and 30 bags of foreign sugar weighing 60kg each.

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The command further seized 17 used vehicles, commonly referred to as tokunbo vehicles, 10 means of conveyance and 10 containers of corrosive mercury.

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Adewole said the seizures had a cumulative Duty Paid Value of N4,106,951,689.

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He explained that the interceptions were part of the command’s statutory responsibility to prevent the smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods.

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“In line with our statutory responsibility to protect the nation’s economy and prevent the smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods, the Command has continued to intensify its anti-smuggling operations across its areas of jurisdiction,” he said.

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The acting controller said the interception of mercury was also significant because of the potential risks associated with improper handling, storage or transportation of the substance.

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He said uncontrolled movement of such materials could pose risks including fire, explosion, injury and property damage.

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“The uncontrolled movement of such materials can expose members of the public to risks of fire, explosion, injury, property damage, and, in extreme circumstances, loss of lives,” Adewole said.

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Adewole attributed the seizures to the vigilance of officers and men of the command, intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with sister security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

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He said the command would sustain its anti-smuggling operations while ensuring that legitimate businesses and law-abiding members of the public were not subjected to unnecessary impediments.

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Revenue performance

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On revenue generation, Adewole disclosed that the Oyo/Osun Area Command generated N65,661,343,026.94 between January and August 2026.

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He said the figure represented a 13.88 per cent increase over the N57,656,161,990.24 collected during the corresponding period in 2025.

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The acting controller attributed the improved revenue performance to the command’s efforts in revenue collection, trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement and strategies aimed at improving compliance.

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“I am pleased to inform you that between January and August 2026, the Command generated a total revenue of Sixty Five Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Twenty-Six Naira, Ninety-Four Kobo,” he said.

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Adewole said the command remained committed to improving revenue generation, facilitating legitimate trade and sustaining its anti-smuggling operations.

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He assured residents and legitimate businesses within the command’s jurisdiction that the Customs Service would continue to balance enforcement with trade facilitation.

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“We will continue to pay particular attention to items that have implications for national security and public safety, while ensuring that legitimate businesses and law-abiding members of the public are not unduly impeded,” he said.

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Adewole also pledged that the command would continue to discharge its responsibilities professionally and in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

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He commended journalists for their continued partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service and urged the media to sustain responsible reportage of the activities of the service.

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