ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has arrested four suspects, including three linked to an attempted firearms smuggling operation and another accused of impersonation and recruitment fraud.
Acting Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Wale Adewole, disclosed the arrests on Thursday while briefing journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Ibadan.
According to Adewole, the three suspects were apprehended in connection with the attempted smuggling of three pump-action rifles, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals linked to the operation.
“In connection with the seizure of the three pump-action rifles, three suspects were arrested and are currently undergoing investigation,” he said.
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The Customs boss explained that the Command was collaborating with the Customs Intelligence Unit, Customs Police Unit and Legal Unit to uncover the network behind the attempted importation of the firearms.
Adewole also revealed the arrest of another suspect accused of impersonating Customs officials and operating a fake recruitment scheme designed to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
He said the suspect was apprehended following intelligence shared by the Amotekun Corps.
According to him, the suspect falsely claimed to have the capacity to secure employment opportunities in the Nigeria Customs Service in exchange for financial payments from job seekers.
“The suspect is currently in custody. It is important to note that no individual can secure employment into the Nigeria Customs Service through unofficial means,” Adewole warned.
He advised members of the public to ignore fraudsters promising jobs in the Service, stressing that all recruitment exercises are transparent, merit-based and conducted strictly through approved official channels.
The Acting Controller further announced that the Command intercepted contraband goods with a combined Duty Paid Value of N3.22 billion between March and May 2026.
The seized items included foreign parboiled rice, second-hand clothing, used shoes, tyres, pharmaceuticals, cannabis sativa, tramadol, Premium Motor Spirit, and vehicles allegedly used for smuggling activities.
Other intercepted items, he said, comprised used compressors, sugar, pasta products, illicit drugs, as well as several vehicles, including buses, saloon cars and trucks.
Adewole disclosed that the Command generated N28.5 billion in revenue during the same period, representing an eight per cent increase compared to revenue recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
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“The cumulative Duty Paid Value of these seizures stands at N3,221,843,672,” he stated.
He noted that the seizures had helped protect the nation’s economy while disrupting the activities of criminal smuggling networks operating within the Command’s area of responsibility.
Adewole commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for providing leadership that has strengthened intelligence-driven enforcement operations across Customs commands nationwide.
He also praised officers and personnel of the Oyo/Osun Area Command for their professionalism and dedication, assuring that efforts to combat smuggling, curb illegal activities and safeguard national security would continue.