The Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko, has handed over 2,693 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, valued at over ₦172 million, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), following a major anti-smuggling operation in Yewa South, Ogun State.
The seized substance, weighing 1,450kg, was concealed in the false bottom of a Mercedes Benz articulated truck with Lagos registration number EPE 959 YK.
Customs officials say the illegal cargo was intercepted last Sunday, June 29, while en route through the Ilaro axis.
Area Comptroller Godwin Otunla, who briefed journalists during the handover at the NCS Century Office in Idiroko, described the interception as a product of intelligence-led surveillance, which tracked the truck from its loading point until it was intercepted in Ilaro.
“This seizure is another strong message to smugglers and drug traffickers. Our intelligence network followed this consignment closely, and our officers executed the operation with precision,” Otunla said.
A 39-year-old suspect, Williams Asare, the driver of the truck, was also arrested in connection with the seizure and has been handed over to the NDLEA for prosecution.
Otunla emphasized the threat such a large haul of cannabis posed to public health and youth development, adding that the economic value of the seizure—put at ₦172,920,000—only underscores the scale of the illicit operation.
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“Had this quantity of drugs entered society, the social and psychological impact would have been devastating, especially among our youth,” he stated.
Receiving the consignment on behalf of the NDLEA, Commander Olaniyi Ekudayo of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Area Command praised the Customs Service for its vigilance and dedication.
He confirmed that the agency would conduct laboratory analysis on the seized drugs and proceed with further investigations before arraigning the suspect in court.
“This seizure shows how strong inter-agency collaboration has become in the fight against drug trafficking. We are determined to see this case through to prosecution,” Ekudayo assured.
The operation has been hailed as a successful example of intelligence-sharing and operational synergy between security agencies in curbing trans-border crime and drug smuggling across Nigeria’s porous southwestern borders.