The Oyo/Osun Customs Area Command announced on Wednesday that it seized contrabands valued at N755.8 million and generated an impressive N23.9 billion in revenue during the third quarter of 2024.
The Area Controller, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, shared these achievements with journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, while detailing the command’s performance from August to October.
Dr. Oramalugo highlighted that the revenue generated in the third quarter represented a significant 27.5 percent increase compared to the N17.3 billion earned during the same period in 2023.
“Cumulatively, for the period covering January to September 2024, the command has generated N56.6 billion, reflecting a 7.85 percent increase from the N52.2 billion recorded in the same timeframe last year,” he stated.
The seized items during this period included 433 bags of 50kg foreign rice, 49 sacks of cannabis sativa, 93 used tyres, and 8,850 litres of petrol.
Additional confiscated goods encompassed counterfeit pharmaceuticals such as 46 cartons of Analgin injections, 68 sacks of 500mg Amoxicillin capsules, 13 packets of pentazocine 30mg, and 10 sacks of Arthromether tablets.
Dr. Oramalugo reiterated the command’s dedication to collecting all government revenues as mandated by law, stating, “Despite the country’s economic condition, we have intensified efforts to ensure that every revenue due to the government is collected.”
He affirmed that the command remains committed to its dual mandate of revenue generation and combating smuggling and other illicit activities that threaten the economy.
He noted the alarming frequency of counterfeit pharmaceuticals being seized, promising that the command would continue its battle against illicit drugs.
“We will not allow the business of smuggling and other contrabands to thrive in our area of responsibility,” he assured.
The successes achieved, he attributed to the hard work and commitment of the command’s personnel, as well as the support of the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi.
Dr. Oramalugo revealed that the comptroller-general recently provided two new Hilux vans and additional essential equipment to facilitate their operations.
In a show of collaboration, the controller handed over the seized fake pharmaceutical products, valued at N596.8 million in duty-paid value, to Roseline Ajayi, the South-West Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Additionally, 49 sacks of cannabis sativa worth N46.9 million in duty-paid value were transferred to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency official Abogunrin Olatunji.
