CUSTOMS INTERCEPTS N1.99BN CONTRABAND, INCLUDING EXPIRED FLOUR AND DRUGS, AT SEME BORDER
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has announced the interception of contraband goods valued at N1.99 billion between September 1 and October 9, 2025, along the .
Addressing journalists during his maiden press briefing at the Seme Border on Thursday, the Customs Area Controller, , revealed that the seized items included 10,000 bags of expired flour imported from Egypt, with a duty-paid value of N1.2 billion. The flour, transported in five trucks, was described as a serious public health risk that could have caused infections, food poisoning, and long-term health complications if allowed into the Nigerian market.
The Seme Border in , which connects Nigeria to the , serves as a critical gateway for trade and travel along the 1,028-kilometre corridor linking five West African countries Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. The route accounts for about 70 per cent of regional trade but has also become a hotspot for smuggling activities.
Adenuga said the Command’s intensified anti-smuggling operations led to the seizure of 1,104 parcels of cannabis sativa, 120 packs of tramadol, 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 150 bales of second-hand clothing, 169 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup, and five used vehicles.
He disclosed that two suspects were handed over to the (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Describing smuggling as “economic sabotage,” Adenuga said it undermines revenue generation and endangers public welfare, stressing that the command remains focused on driving legitimate trade and job creation.
On export activities, the Customs chief stated that the command facilitated non-oil exports totalling 53,989.46 metric tonnes, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of N7.9 billion and a fee of N39.8 million. The exports comprised agricultural produce and manufactured goods under the (ETLS), reflecting renewed confidence in Seme as a regional trade hub.
Adenuga also reported a significant increase in revenue generation, with the Command raking in N1.5 billion in September, compared to N531.4 million in August, representing a 182 per cent rise.
He credited the improvement to enhanced inter-agency coordination, technology-driven border management, and simplified clearance procedures aimed at facilitating legitimate trade.
The Customs boss commended the for its collaboration in intercepting smuggled rice along the waterways.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to balancing revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security objectives through intelligence-led operations.
The report also recalled that the immediate past Area Controller, , achieved multiple high-value seizures during his tenure from February to September 2025, including rice, used clothing, and cannabis, underlining the persistent challenges of smuggling across the Lagos–Abidjan trade corridor.
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