By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted contraband and prohibited goods with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million between January and July 2026.
The seizures include expired noodles, foreign rice, illicit drugs, cigarettes, explosive materials and other restricted items.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.
Kaila said the seizures were recorded through intelligence-driven operations targeted at curbing smuggling, protecting national security and public health, supporting local industries and preventing revenue leakages.
Among the major seizures were 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, weighing 50kg each. The consignment, which was falsely declared as food items, was intercepted following credible intelligence and subsequent examination by Customs officers.
According to Kaila, the noodles were already decomposing, with intelligence suggesting that they were intended to be repackaged and relabelled for sale to unsuspecting members of the public.
The command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, weighing 50kg each, allegedly smuggled into the country through illegal routes.
Kaila said the seizure was part of efforts to protect local rice production, support the Federal Government’s food security policies and curb revenue losses associated with smuggling.
Other items seized include 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.
The Comptroller said the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary action.
The command also intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally transported through the Seme border corridor.
Kaila described the seizure as a major national security intervention, noting that the materials could potentially be used in the commission of violent crimes, including terrorism, kidnapping and banditry.
He disclosed that the explosives, alongside one suspect, had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Seme Area Command generated N19.84 billion in revenue between January and July 2026, representing an increase of N3.90 billion, or 24.45 per cent, over the N15.94 billion generated by the command throughout 2025.
Kaila attributed the revenue growth to improved compliance, stakeholder engagement and enhanced operational efficiency.
Other items intercepted during the period include one used speedboat, one used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4 and a 2010 Nissan Versa.
The Customs Area Controller warned smugglers that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations against economic sabotage and cross-border criminal activities.
He, however, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, supporting Nigeria’s economic reforms and promoting regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).