Seme Customs Intercepts 3,300 Explosive Cartridges, Illicit Drugs, Others

By Modinat Eniodunmo 

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the Seme border corridor, alongside expired food products, illicit drugs, foreign rice, and other prohibited items, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million.

The Command also generated N19.84 billion revenue between January and July 2026, representing a 24.45 per cent increase over the N15.94 billion collected in the entire 2025 fiscal year.

Announcing this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Seme Border, the Customs Area Controller of the Command,  Comptroller  Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, stated that officers intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor.

He noted that the seizure represented a significant national security intervention, given the potential of such materials to facilitate violent crimes if they fell into the hands of criminal elements.

Due to the sensitive nature of the seizure, Kaila said the explosive materials, alongside one suspect, had already been handed over to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for safe custody and further investigation.

The Controller also said that the Command generated N15.94billion in 2025, but recorded N19.84billion in revenue within the first seven months of 2026, showing a great improvement.

According to him, the latest figure means the Command has already surpassed its full-year 2025 revenue by N3.899 billion, representing a 24.45 per cent increase.

He attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced compliance, stronger stakeholder engagement, improved operational efficiency and intensified enforcement against smuggling.

“Effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities,” Kaila said, stressing that the Command would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while denying smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy.

On enforcement, the Customs Area Controller disclosed that the Command also intercepted 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, following credible intelligence and surveillance.

According to him, the truck carrying the consignment had been deceptively declared as conveying food items, but thorough examination by Customs officers revealed the expired noodles.

He stressed that intelligence indicated that the products were allegedly intended to be repackaged and relabelled for sale to unsuspecting consumers in Nigeria.

According to him, the interception prevented potentially harmful food products from entering the Nigerian market and underscored the role of border enforcement in protecting public health.

He added that the Command seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, weighing 50 kilogrammes each, which were smuggled into the country through illegal routes.

The Controller explained that the illegal importation not only deprived the government of legitimate revenue but also undermined local rice production and the Federal Government’s agricultural policies.

Illicit drugs and harmful substances were part of the seizures made. The Command intercepted 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.

Comptroller Kaila emphasised that the seizures had disrupted illicit supply chains and prevented dangerous substances and unregulated products from reaching Nigerian communities.

He hinted that the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be formally 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 seized other items, which include one used speedboat, one used water bike, one 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, one 2016 Toyota RAV4 and one 2010 Nissan Versa.

The Controller sternly warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs that the Command had intensified intelligence-driven operations and would continue to collaborate with sister security agencies to frustrate criminal activities along the border corridor.

He declared that the Command remained committed to supporting the Federal Government’s economic reforms, facilitating compliant trade and promoting regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Controller concluded with commendation to sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and intelligence sharing, which have been of great help to the Command.