Ogun Customs seizes 2,593 parcels of Indian hemp concealed under truck

The Ogun 1 Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Godwin Otunla, said the command has intercepted 2,693 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, concealed inside a false compartment fabricated at the bottom of a Mercedes Benz truck.

Otunla disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the NSC Sentry Post, Idiroko, on Thursday.

He stated that illicit substances which weighed 1,450kg, was smuggled through the Idiroko border into the country by 39-year old William Asare, the driver of the Mercedes truck with registration number EPE-595-LA.

The Customs boss noted that the seizure was made in the early hours of Sunday 29, June 2025, putting the Duty Paid Value (DPV) on the seized substances at N172,920,000.

He said, “In accordance with Section 226 of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act, 2023, the truck was immediately moved to the Command’s headquarters in Idiroko for further investigation.

“ A comprehensive physical examination revealed a total of 2,693 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,450kg. Other enabling provisions of the NCS Act 2023 that guided this operation include Sections 6 and 250. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizure amounts to N172,920,000”, Otunla stated.

Otunla handed the seized drugs and the suspect over to the officials of the Idiroko Special Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and likely prosecution.

In his response, the Area Commander, NDLEA Special Command, Idiroko, Ekundayo Williams, commended Ogun 1 Area Command of the NCS for its sustained fight against smuggling, particularly drugs and assured that the suspect will be charged to court after thorough investigation by the NDLEA.

Ogun Customs seizes 2,593 parcels of Indian hemp concealed under truck