The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials illegally conveyed through the Seme border corridor, alongside expired food products, illicit drugs, foreign rice and other contraband with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million.
Also, a speed boat, and water bike were intercepted by officers of the Seme command while being smuggled through bush parts.
The Seme Area Controller, Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed this at a press briefing in Seme Border, Badagry, Lagos State, saying that the service 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.
Kaila said that the command generated N15.94 billion in 2025, but recorded N19.84 billion in revenue within the first seven months of 2026.
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.
Also, he noted that the command intercepted 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, following credible intelligence and surveillance, noting that the truck carrying the consignment had been deceptively declared as conveying food items, but thorough examination by Customs officers revealed the expired noodles.
He explained 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.
Kaila said that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation were complementary responsibilities, stressing that the command would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while denying smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy.
On enforcement, the controller disclosed 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 explained that 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.
He said: “The Command also seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, weighing 50 kilogrammes each, which were smuggled into the country through illegal routes. The illegal importation not only deprived the government of legitimate revenue but also undermined local rice production and the Federal Government’s agricultural policies.
“In the area of illicit drugs and harmful substances, 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 added 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.
He explained: “Other items seized by the command include one used speedboat, one used water bike, one 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, one 2016 Toyota RAV4 and one 2010 Nissan Versa.
“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal: Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage.”