Customs Joins INTERPOL Intelligence Network to Boost Border Security

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its border security and intelligence capabilities with the deployment of an INTERPOL Data Centre at its headquarters in Abuja, giving officers access to one of the world’s largest criminal intelligence networks.

The facility is expected to bolster intelligence gathering, combat transnational crime and improve cargo profiling, valuation and risk assessment through real-time access to global criminal databases.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development during a demonstration of the facility on Monday, describing it as a major milestone in the Service’s technology-driven transformation and intelligence-led enforcement strategy.

According to Adeniyi, Customs enforcement has evolved beyond conventional compliance, with technology now playing a central role in tackling cross-border criminal activities.

“The deployment of the INTERPOL Data Centre represents another major milestone in our technology-driven transformation and intelligence-led enforcement strategy,” he said.

The Customs boss disclosed that the planned signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INTERPOL would further deepen collaboration between both organisations in intelligence sharing and border security operations.

Adeniyi also highlighted the Service’s indigenous B’Odogwu platform, describing it as an innovative digital solution capable of supporting trade facilitation in Nigeria and across other African Customs administrations.

INTERPOL Consultant, Chikwe Udensi, said the facility is the eighth INTERPOL Data Centre in Africa and provides Customs officers with access to more than 152 global criminal databases covering stolen vehicles, vessels, cargo, parcels and other transported assets.

According to him, the platform enables officers to instantly verify whether goods or transport assets have been reported stolen anywhere in the world, thereby strengthening investigations, border security and revenue generation through real-time intelligence.

Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Timi Bomodi, said officers had already been trained to operate the system, which has been fully integrated into the Service’s Information and Communication Technology infrastructure.

Bomodi noted that the platform also enhances cargo profiling, valuation and risk assessment by providing accurate information on the description and origin of goods, further strengthening Customs enforcement and trade facilitation.