The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has attributed the seizure of over 200 containers of illicit drugs to enhance collaboration between the Service and other security agencies.

The agencies, according to him, were the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Speaking during a working visit to the Ogun II Area Command in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Adeniyi said the crackdown on drug trafficking and smuggling is a direct result of joint intelligence efforts and coordinated operations among key national agencies.

“One of my cardinal programmes anchors on collaboration,” he said. “I have always believed that we can do a lot through collaboration.”

According to him, the declaration of a state of emergency on illicit drug imports was followed by strengthened partnerships, which have led to notable results.

“When the Customs declared a state of emergency against illicit drugs importation into the country, what I did was to value the support of NAFDAC and NDLEA.

“And since then, we have received regular intelligence briefings from them, and we have conducted joint operations leading to seizures of over 200 containers,” Adeniyi stated.

He explained that, in addition to the seizures, the contraband was destroyed in joint efforts supervised by the office of the National Security Adviser to ensure they did not return to circulation or fall into the wrong hands.

Adeniyi said this model of collaboration is now being implemented nationwide across various Customs commands, with officers working more closely with their host communities to gather and act on relevant intelligence to counter smuggling and other economic crimes.

He further disclosed that the Service is deploying technology to manage goods in transit between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

The system is currently in its pilot stage at the Seme-Krake border and, once successful, will be rolled out along other border points.

“We are going to deploy technology to manage transportation between the two countries. We have already developed it; we are only piloting it now in Seme-Krake border.

“By the time we finish the piloting, once it is successful, we are going to deploy it along the borders,” he said.

Adeniyi described Nigeria’s relationship with the Republic of Benin as “robust,” noting that both countries are exchanging intelligence and working towards the formation of a Joint Task Force to oversee goods in transit.

“They have always been forthcoming in providing the platform; we exchange information, we exchange intelligence,” he said.

He also commended the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for repositioning the state for industrial growth and pledged the NCS’s continued support toward driving economic development.

While addressing the CG’s delegation, the Controller of the Ogun II Area Command, Bisi Alade, reported that the command generated over N15bn in revenue in the first quarter of 2025.

Alade credited the milestone to the support and leadership of the Comptroller-General as well as the commitment and diligence of officers under the command.