The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) for the Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko in Ogun State, Deputy Comptroller OO Afeni proves that the new generation Customs officers are fully prepared to take over the leadership of the Service in the nearest future as the Command seizes over ₦2 Billion worth of contraband in 11 days
By Innocent Chukwu
The new generation Customs officers are now being referred to, by stakeholders, as the “wonder boys” in the shipping industry. The reference is not unconnected with the magical performance of one of the members of the youthful officers, Deputy Comptroller OO Afeni, the new Customs Area Controller (CAC) for the Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, in Ogun State. Acting Controller Afeni is among the new generation officers selected by the Customs management late November 2025 to test their leadership capability as Area Controllers on acting capacity.
Tentacle reports in its Volume 17, Number 22 of December 21 edition how upon DC Afeni’s arrival at the Command, many alleged smugglers began to flee the Idiroko Border when they got the news that the dogged officer had arrived in the border. Indeed, numerous reports had identified Afeni as an officer who did not joke with the security of the country when he served in the disbanded “Strike Force” Team, and the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) respectively. At the two anti-smuggling Units he proved that he has chosen a career path through which he would contribute to enhance the security of the country especially in these trying days of insecurity.
Recall that across the globe, Customs Operation now focus more on national security and trade facilitation, than just on revenue generation as terrorism keeps spreading all over the world. Patriotic officers who can help to secure the country through the interceptions of harmful imports in the sea ports, airports and border communities are in short supply. Under this dismal atmosphere, Afeni has distinguished himself as an anti-smuggling czar of the rebranded Nigeria Customs. Instructively, just within his first 11 days in office as the acting CAC Ogun 1, the Command intercepted different contrabands worth over two billion naira. The new acting CAC took over the leadership of the Command on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
In a sweeping anti-smuggling operation, the Ogun 1 Command intercepted smuggled items valued at over ₦2 billion , these also included exotic cars valued at over N28 million.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, December 17, the acting Area Controller declared a renewed crackdown on smuggling activities, warning that, “there will be no hiding place” for perpetrators within the command’s jurisdiction.
Among the intercepted items were 16 parcels of heroin (16kg) valued at ₦240 million, 3,355 wraps of Cannabis Sativa worth ₦435.08 million, 2,200 kegs of foreign groundnut oil valued at ₦264 million, and 5,417 cartons of foreign spaghetti estimated at ₦162.51 million.
The seized narcotics were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with the Idiroko Area Commander, Ekundayo Williams, commending DC Afeni for what he described as “spectacular seizures.”
The operation underscores the command’s intensified efforts to curb the influx of illicit drugs and smuggled goods through Nigeria’s southwestern border corridors.
