The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted various contraband items including hard drugs and expired flour valued at N1.99 billion, along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor between September 1 and October 9, 2025.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, disclosed this during his maiden press briefing at the command headquarters in Seme, Badagry, Lagos State.
Adenuga explained that the seizure included 10,000 bags of expired flour imported from Egypt, with a duty-paid value of N1.2 billion, concealed in five trucks. He warned that the products posed significant health hazards, capable of causing food poisoning, infections, and long-term health complications if they had entered Nigerian markets.
According to him, the command also confiscated 1,104 parcels of cannabis sativa and 120 packs of tramadol, while two suspects have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Other seized goods include 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 150 bales of used clothing, 169 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, and five used vehicles.
Adenuga described smuggling as a threat to national security and economic stability, noting that it deprives the country of revenue that could otherwise support small and medium enterprises and job creation.
He added that the command has strengthened intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration to curb the activities of smugglers while promoting legitimate trade along the corridor.
On export performance, Adenuga revealed that the Seme Command facilitated non-oil exports totaling 53,989.46 metric tonnes during the review period, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of N7.9 billion and a Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fee of N39.8 million.
The exports, comprising mainly agricultural and manufactured goods, reflect renewed confidence among exporters in the Seme border as a viable trade route under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
In terms of revenue generation, the command recorded N1.5 billion in September, a sharp rise from N531.4 million in August, representing a 182 per cent increase.
Adenuga attributed the surge to enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified clearance processes, and the use of technology in customs operations. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to balancing revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security.
The Customs chief also commended the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Badagry, for its consistent collaboration in intercepting smuggled goods along the waterways.
The latest operation builds on the achievements of the immediate past Area Controller, Dr. Ben Oramalugo (Rtd), who also recorded major seizures of rice, used clothing, and cannabis during his tenure from February to September 2025.
Smuggling remains a persistent challenge along Nigeria’s land borders, particularly in rice, used textiles, and other banned items. The Customs Service continues to intensify efforts to block revenue leakages and promote lawful export activities.
