Customs Seize Lithium, Foreign Rice, Vehicles Worth ₦478 Million in Kwara

N478 Million Smuggling Bust: Customs Intercept Lithium, Foreign Rice, Vehicles in Kwara 

In a major crackdown on smuggling activities, the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted contraband goods worth ₦478 million in Kwara State, sending a strong warning to smugglers who have long used the state as a transit corridor for illegal trade. The seizures include lithium ore, foreign rice, vehicles, petrol, and other prohibited goods, highlighting the growing scale of smuggling networks operating across Nigeria’s borders.


The operation was carried out by officers of the Kwara Area Command during intelligence-driven patrols across several smuggling routes in the state.

The Acting Area Controller, Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, revealed that the seizures were made after weeks of surveillance and coordinated enforcement activities. According to him, the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted items is N478,171,315.

“This command will not allow smugglers to use Kwara as a safe passage for illegal trade,” he said during a press briefing.


Among the items confiscated during the operation were, 120 sacks of illegally mined lithium ore, 1,107 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), five used vehicles, nine vehicles loaded with smuggled rice, 317 jerrycans of petrol meant for illegal export, 44 bags of imported sugar, and second-hand clothes and machinery. Authorities say these items were being transported through hidden routes to avoid customs checkpoints.


One of the most striking discoveries in the seizure was lithium ore, a mineral that has become extremely valuable in the global market. Lithium is used in manufacturing, electric vehicle batteries, smartphones and electronics, and renewable energy storage systems. 

Because of this rising demand, illegal mining and smuggling of lithium have become a growing challenge for Nigerian authorities. When minerals like lithium are exported illegally, the country loses millions in potential revenue and economic value.


The Nigeria Customs Service warned smugglers that enforcement will continue to intensify. Officials stressed that, smuggling undermines Nigeria’s economy, weakens local industries such as rice farming, and it deprives the government of much-needed revenue. 

The command also revealed that it generated over ₦2.53 billion in revenue within the same period through legitimate operations.  



           You can also read: 

https://everydaystorynetwork.blogspot.com/2026/02/nigeria-customs-service-seizes-smuggled.html 

Customs Zone D Intercepts Smuggled Petrol, Vehicle and Live Pangolins Worth Over N52 Million 





                 EverydayStoryNetwork Perspective

Smuggling is more than just illegal trade, it is economic sabotage. When foreign rice floods the market illegally, local farmers suffer. When minerals like lithium are smuggled abroad, Nigeria loses resources that could power future industries. But enforcement alone is not enough. The government must also; strengthen border surveillance, create better economic opportunities for border communities, and crack down on illegal mining networks. Otherwise, smugglers will always find new routes.


                Let’s Hear From You

Do you think Nigeria is doing enough to stop smuggling?

Yes, enforcement is improving

No, smugglers still operate freely


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