In a renewed onslaught in the fight against smuggling and cross-border crimes, the Seme Customer Area Command has impounded several items using intelligence to disrupt the activities of those bent on sabotaging our nation’s economy.
Briefing stakeholders and members of the press, the Customs Area Controller,Seme Command , Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila explained that “as part of its anti-smuggling efforts, the Command seized a range of items.
Beginning with a seizure that directly concerns the health and well-being of millions of Nigerians.
Controller Kaila said “following credible intelligence, officers of the Seme Area Command intercepted a truck that was deceptively declared to be carrying food items. Acting on intelligence and sustained surveillance, our officers subjected the consignment to thorough examination and uncovered 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilograms.
What was discovered was deeply disturbing because many of the products had already deteriorated and were visibly decomposing. Intelligence further revealed that the intention was to repackage, relabel and introduce these products into Nigerian markets for unsuspecting consumers.
Had this shipment succeeded, countless families would have been exposed to serious health hazards ranging from food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases to other life-threatening medical complications.
By intercepting these products, the Nigeria Customs Service has once again demonstrated that border security is also a form of public health protection. Every child, every family and every Nigerian has been protected from what could have become a silent public health disaster.
Furthermore, in separate enforcement operations conducted across different flashpoints within our area of responsibility, the Command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, smuggled through illegal routes.”
Also seized were :
● 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)
” The Duty Paid Value of all items on display today is ₦365,163,709. To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal, Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage.” He added
Meanwhile, the Command also recorded a significant leap in revenue generation.
According to Controller Kaila, despite the importance of enforcement, ” it represents only one dimension of our statutory responsibilities. The second is facilitating legitimate trade while generating revenue for national development.
In 2025, the Seme Area Command generated a total revenue of ₦15,941,258,676.01. That achievement reflected improved compliance, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and strengthened operational efficiency. Yet our revenue performance in 2026 has been even more remarkable, between January and July 2026, the Command generated ₦19,840,280,788.50.
This means that within only seven months, the Command has surpassed its entire twelve-month revenue collection for 2025 by ₦3,899,022,112.49, representing a 24.45 per cent increase.
This achievement demonstrates that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities.,”
He further insists that by continuously denying smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy, the Command remains committed to creating an enabling environment for compliant traders to conduct legitimate business with ease and predictability.
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Attributing the achievements to the dedication and resilience of officers and men of the Seme Area Command, who continue to work tirelessly in protecting our nation from economic saboteurs and transnational criminal networks, Controller Kaila restated the resolve of the Command to supporting the Federal Government’s economic reforms, promoting regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), facilitating compliant trade and ensuring that smugglers have no safe haven within our area of responsibility.
He disclosed that the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products seized by the Command will be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary action, while the explosive materials (along with one suspect) have already been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit due to their highly sensitive nature.