Seme Customs Intercepts 3,300 Explosive Cartridges, N365m Contraband in Border Crackdown
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials allegedly being illegally conveyed through the Seme border corridor, in a major enforcement operation aimed at preventing dangerous items from entering the country.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State, where he also announced the seizure of illicit drugs, expired food products, foreign rice, cigarettes, vehicles and other contraband with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦365.16 million.
Kaila described the interception of the explosives as one of the most significant seizures recorded by the Command, warning of the potential consequences of allowing such materials to fall into the hands of criminal elements.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the seizure was achieved through intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with sister security agencies.
He disclosed that the explosive materials, due to their sensitive nature, had already been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation, alongside one suspect.
The Command also 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.
“These are not ordinary commodities, they are dangerous products capable of destroying lives, fueling criminality, encouraging substance abuse and undermining the future of our young people,” Kaila said.
In another major operation, Customs officers intercepted a truck falsely declared to be carrying food items and discovered 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes.
Kaila said intelligence and surveillance led officers to subject the consignment to thorough examination, revealing that some of the products had deteriorated and were visibly decomposing.
He said intelligence suggested that the noodles were intended to be repackaged and relabelled before being introduced into the Nigerian market.
“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,” he said.
The Command also seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, allegedly smuggled through illegal routes.
Kaila said the illegal importation of foreign rice deprived government of revenue, undermined its agricultural policies and threatened the livelihoods of local farmers.
Beyond its enforcement activities, the Command recorded a significant increase in revenue generation, collecting ₦19,840,280,788.50 between January and July 2026.
The figure surpassed the Command's total revenue collection of ₦15,941,258,676.01 for the whole of 2025 by ₦3,899,022,112.49.
Kaila said the seven-month performance represented a 24.45 per cent increase over the Command's entire 2025 collection.
“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,” he said.
He attributed the growth to improved compliance, enhanced stakeholder engagement and strengthened operational efficiency.
The Customs chief maintained that aggressive enforcement and trade facilitation were mutually reinforcing responsibilities of the Service.
“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.
Other items seized by the Command included one used speedboat, one used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4 and a 2010 Nissan Versa.
Kaila warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs that the Command would sustain its intelligence-led operations across the border corridor.
“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal, Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage,” he said.
He added that the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be 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.
Kaila reaffirmed the Command's commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, supporting the Federal Government's economic reforms and promoting regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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