The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service 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 anti-smuggling operations in August 2026.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Wale Moses Adewole, disclosed this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a press briefing on the command’s revenue performance and anti-smuggling operations. Adewole said the interception of the police-related materials raised serious security concerns, warning that the unauthorised possession and movement of security uniforms and insignia could facilitate impersonation and 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 footwear, 5,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 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 ₦4.11 billion. Adewole said the interceptions formed part of the command’s statutory responsibility to prevent the smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods while safeguarding national security and the economy.
He also warned of the dangers posed by the uncontrolled movement of mercury and other hazardous materials, saying the command would sustain intelligence-led operations in collaboration with sister security agencies. The seized items were handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further processing.