Nigeria Customs Service Intercepts Smuggled Vegetable Oil And Illegal Mica Stones Worth Over R224 Million In Ogun State

Ogun I Customs Command intercepts 1,202 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil and N104M worth of mica stones. Read how the NCS is protecting local producers and mineral revenue.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 6:48 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Large-Scale Interception of Illicit Goods

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has recorded another major success in its ongoing anti-smuggling campaign. In a statement released on April 4, 2026, the command’s spokesperson, Chado Zakari, confirmed the seizure of 1,202 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil. The illicit shipment carries a duty-paid value of N120.2 million. This operation is the latest in a series of strategic interceptions aimed at destabilizing smuggling networks that bypass national trade regulations.

Intelligence-Led Operations

The recovery of the vegetable oil was the result of two separate intelligence-led operations conducted on March 19 and March 24, 2026. Acting Customs Area Controller, Olukayode Afeni, emphasized that these precision strikes are essential for economic protection. By removing these goods from the market, the NCS aims to eliminate unfair competition for local vegetable oil producers who adhere to regulatory standards and tax obligations. This follows previous major hauls in December 2025 and earlier in March 2026, totaling over 4,600 kegs.

Curbing Illegal Mineral Exports

Beyond consumer goods, the command has successfully targeted the illegal trade of solid minerals. During a routine anti-smuggling patrol, officers intercepted 285 sacks of mica stones, each weighing 50kg. The minerals, valued at N104.78 million, have since been handed over to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. Mr. Zakari noted that preventing the unauthorized export of such minerals is vital for safeguarding government revenue and ensuring that Nigeria’s natural resources are traded through official, regulated channels.