Customs Seizes Expired Noodles, Explosives, Drugs Worth N365m at Seme
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has intercepted contraband and illicit goods with a combined duty-paid value of N365.16 million, including expired noodles, explosives, illicit drugs and other prohibited items.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.
Kaila said the seizures were made through intelligence-led operations and sustained surveillance across the command’s area of responsibility.
According to him, officers intercepted a truck falsely declared to be conveying food items but discovered 1,306 sacks of expired and decomposing noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes.
He said some of the noodles had already deteriorated and begun decomposing, while intelligence indicated that the products were allegedly destined to be repackaged, relabelled and introduced into the Nigerian market.
“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,” he said.
The comptroller said the seizure underscored the broader role of border control in protecting both the national economy and public health.
He added that the command separately intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, which were allegedly smuggled into the country through illegal routes.
Kaila said rice smuggling deprived the government of legitimate revenue, undermined agricultural policies, discouraged local production and threatened the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
On illicit drugs and other harmful substances, he disclosed that officers 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 potentially harmful substances from reaching communities.
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“Through these interceptions, the Seme Area Command has disrupted criminal supply chains and prevented these dangerous products from reaching our communities,” Kaila said.
The Customs boss further disclosed the interception of 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials allegedly being illegally transported through the border corridor.
He described the explosives as a serious national security threat, noting that such materials could potentially be used to facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Kaila said the explosives, alongside one suspect, had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.
Other items seized included one used speedboat, one used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4 and a 2010 Nissan Versa.
The comptroller said the total duty-paid value of the items displayed was N365,163,709.
He warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs that the Seme border would no longer serve as a safe passage for illicit activities.
“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal: Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage,” he said.
Seme Customs generates N19.84bn in seven months
Meanwhile, the Seme Area Command generated N19.84 billion in revenue between January and July 2026, representing a significant increase over its total collection for the whole of 2025.
Kaila said the command collected N19,840,280,788.50 during the first seven months of 2026, compared with N15,941,258,676.01 generated throughout 2025.
The increase amounts to N3.899 billion, or 24.45 per cent, above the command’s 2025 revenue figure.
According to the comptroller, the development demonstrates that effective enforcement and trade facilitation can operate simultaneously to enhance government revenue.
He said the command remained committed to providing an enabling environment for compliant traders while denying smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy.
Kaila also disclosed that the seized illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for investigation and further necessary action.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic reforms, facilitating legitimate regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, and ensuring that smugglers have no safe haven within its area of responsibility.
By PRNigeria
