New Enforcement Dawn at Ogun Area 1, As Otunla Hits Smugglers Hard with Seizure Record worth N1.4Bn in Six Weeks

New Enforcement Dawn at Ogun Area One, As Otunla Hits Smugglers Hard with Seizure Record worth N1.4Bn in Six Weeks

Controller GA Otunla, CAC, Ogun Area 1 Command, NCS

The Ogun Area One Command (Idiroko) if the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has continued to live up to billing, especially with one of its core mandates of anti-smuggling, as it maintained border security, to ensure only legitimate consignments and goods gained access through the most notoriety smuggling border post in the West African sub-region.

Otunla addressing the press at the event

Attaining huge rancour free success at the command, have consistently been up the chest of the present nonsense Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, whose leadership since its advent had continued to marshalled blitzkrieg enforcement posture vis a vis adopting high powered level of intelligence profiling to execute his enforcement mandate, with zero casualty.

The Ogun 1 command under Comptroller Otunla have been up and doing in its enforcement duties, leaving no stone unturned in achieving huge goal in the reduction of smuggling activities to the barest minimum without brutal engagement, but through deployment of measures such as robust collaboration, regular stakeholders engagement, effective feedback mechanism and prompt resolutions, among others.

The command however buttressed this assertion when in the last Six weeks of enforcement engagement, it recorded a seizure landmark worth over N1.4 billion from various contraband and offensive goods.

This achieved feat is contained in the press briefing statement of Comptroller Godwin Otunla, who briefed journalists on Thursday August 21, 2025 at Idiroko, when he disclosed that true to his led management words, the command sustained its anti-smuggling momentum, recording remarkable achievements within this short period of his leadership.

To him, the current significant seizure feat were recorded through intelligence – driven operations, with resilience and the unwavering commitment of the gallant officers of the command.

Breaking down the striking seizures, the CAC said they include; 4,424 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice which translates to over Seven truck-load; Cannabis Sativa a.k.a Marijuana, which amounted to 50 sacks and 2,936 parcels of cocoa nut size; Used Pneumatic Tyres in 105 pieces; and Used Clothing of 21 bales and three (3) sacks.

Others are 3 units of Foreign-Used Vehicles popularly called ‘Tokunbo’, which included One Rolls-Royce worth billions of Naira, as well as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in 6,400 litres.

Rice Seizures stacked at the Government Warehouse

In addition to the remarkable enforcement feat, the command also maintained an upscale in its revenue collection mandate with sustained efforts to ensure maximum and appropriate revenue is generated.

To this, the CAC, while given a monthly breakdown of the Command’s revenue disclosed that an unprecedented total collection sum of  N45,054,191.00 was realised in the month of July 2025, which according to him is higher than the N35,327,852.00 collection recorded in the corresponding month of 2024.

He explained that the collected sum represents a commendable increase of 27.47%, as he noted that the remarkable growth is a reflection of an enhanced compliance drive, improved monitoring of border activities, and robust stakeholder engagement undertaken by his led management.

However, consistent with the Command’s robust inter-agency collaboration framework, the illicit seized drugs were handed over to the Commander of the NDLEA, Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and necessary action.

According to Otunla, the synergy is not only in compliance with government directives, but also reinforces their collective determination to safeguard public health, ensure national security, and protect the future of our youths from the devastating effects of hard drugs.

While commending the gallant officers and men of Ogun I Area Command for their resilience and dedication, Comptroller Otunla also used the opportunity to appreciate the support of relevant sister security agencies and the cooperation of patriotic members of the border communities who continue to provide credible intelligence to aid their operations.

Again, he reiterated that the fight against smuggling remains a collective responsibility, as they shall continue to build on collaboration, intelligence sharing, and innovation, in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, dsm, fnipr, fniia psc(+), who has been consistent in his drive for consolidation, collaboration, and innovation.

In conclusion, Comptroller Otunla with his usual stern voice sounded a clear note of warning to the smugglers and their collaborators, with a promise that Ogun I Command will not relent. “We remained vigilant, resolute, and unyielding. No matter the sophistication of their tricks, his officers will continue to thwart their antics, and they shall bring the full weight of the law against them”, he said.