...Command’s revenue hits N19.8bn
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday said it intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials, a truckload of expired noodles and other smuggled goods valued at N365.16 million.
The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Seme-Krake border, where he detailed the operational successes recorded by the Command between May and July 2026.
According to him, the explosive materials, which originated from Ghana, were intercepted along the Seme border corridor.
He said two suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizure and had since been handed over, alongside the explosives, to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit for safe custody and further investigation.
Kaila said the interception was achieved through credible intelligence, sustained surveillance and intelligence-driven operations by Customs officers working in collaboration with sister security agencies.
He described the seizure of the explosives as one of the most significant security interventions recorded by the Command, warning that such materials could be diverted for criminal purposes if allowed to enter the country.
“Explosives of this nature have devastating consequences when they fall into the hands of criminal elements. They have the potential to facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes capable of threatening national peace and security.
“The successful interception of these explosives demonstrates the vigilance, professionalism and intelligence-driven operations of our officers, working in close collaboration with sister security agencies, ” he said.
The Controller also disclosed that the command intercepted a truck deceptively declared to be carrying food items, which was found to contain 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes.
He said intelligence gathered by the Command indicated that the products, many of which had deteriorated and were decomposing, were intended to be repackaged and relabelled before being introduced into the Nigerian market.
Kaila said the interception had prevented potentially harmful food products from reaching unsuspecting consumers, noting that border security was also a form of public health protection.
He further disclosed that the Command seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, smuggled into the country through illegal routes.
According to him, such illicit importation not only deprives government of legitimate revenue but also undermines the Federal Government’s agricultural policies, discourages local rice production and threatens the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
On the fight against illicit drugs and harmful substances, Kaila said 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.
He said the seizures had helped disrupt criminal supply chains and prevent dangerous substances from reaching Nigerian communities.
The Controller also listed other items seized during the period to include one used speedboat, one used water bike, one used Toyota Land Cruiser 2017 model, one used Toyota RAV4 2016 model and one used Nissan Versa 2010 model.
He said the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all the items was N365,163,709.
Kaila warned smugglers that the Command would continue to deploy intelligence, surveillance and collaboration with other security agencies to frustrate their activities.
“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal, Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Controller announced that the Command generated N19.84 billion between January and July 2026, surpassing its total revenue collection of N15.94 billion recorded throughout 2025.
He said the Command generated N19,840,280,788.50 in the first seven months of 2026, representing an increase of N3.899 billion, or 24.45 per cent, over the N15,941,258,676.01 collected in the whole of 2025.
Kaila attributed the revenue growth to improved compliance, enhanced stakeholder engagement and strengthened operational efficiency.
“This achievement demonstrates that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities. While we continue to deny smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy, we remain equally committed to creating an enabling environment for compliant traders to conduct legitimate business with ease and predictability, ” he said.
He said the Command would continue to support the Federal Government’s economic reforms, promote regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), facilitate compliant trade and ensure that smugglers had no safe haven within its area of responsibility.
He expressed appreciation to sister security and government regulatory agencies for their cooperation, intelligence sharing and commitment to national security.
The seized illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products were subsequently 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.
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