Seme Customs Seizes Expired Noodles, Cannabis, Explosives, 1,268 Bags of Rice Worth N365.16m

Seme Customs Seizes Expired Noodles, Cannabis, Explosives, 1,268 Bags of Rice Worth N365.16m

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted contraband and illicit consignments with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦365.16 million, including expired noodles, foreign parboiled rice, cannabis, pharmaceutical products, cigarettes and 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials.

The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed this on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during a press briefing at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.

Kaila said the seizures were the result of intelligence-driven operations and sustained surveillance by officers of the Command, stressing that the interceptions were aimed at protecting public health, national security and the Nigerian economy.

According to him, one of the major seizures involved 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, which were concealed in a truck falsely declared to be carrying food items.

He said Customs officers, acting on credible intelligence, subjected the consignment to thorough examination and discovered that many of the noodles had deteriorated and were visibly decomposing.

Intelligence gathered by the Command, he added, indicated that the expired products were allegedly intended to be repackaged, relabelled and introduced into the Nigerian market for unsuspecting consumers.

Kaila described the seizure as a significant public health intervention, noting that allowing the products into circulation could have exposed consumers to serious health risks.

The Command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, which were allegedly smuggled into Nigeria through illegal routes.

The Customs boss said the illicit importation of rice not only deprives the government of legitimate revenue but also undermines efforts to promote local rice production and threatens the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.

Customs Intercepts Cannabis, Pharmaceuticals, 310,000 Cigarettes

In its continued fight against illicit drugs and harmful substances, the Seme Area Command also intercepted 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg and 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg.

The Command further seized 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.

Kaila said the seized substances constituted serious threats to public safety, particularly because illicit drugs can fuel substance abuse and other forms of criminality.

He said the seizure of the cigarettes also demonstrated the Command's commitment to enforcing regulations, preventing the evasion of statutory duties and keeping unapproved tobacco products away from consumers.

The illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products, he disclosed, 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.

Seme Customs Seizes 3,300 Explosive Cartridges

In a major national security breakthrough, Customs officers also intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor.

Kaila described the seizure as one of the most sensitive interceptions recorded by the Command, warning that explosive materials could have devastating consequences if they fell into the hands of criminal elements.

He said such materials had the potential to facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

According to him, the explosive materials had already been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit for safe custody and further investigation.

He added that one suspect connected to the seizure had also been transferred to the police.

Customs Seizes Vehicles, Watercraft

As part of its anti-smuggling operations, the Command also intercepted one used speedboat, one used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4 and a 2010 Nissan Versa.

Kaila put the combined Duty Paid Value of all the seized items at ₦365,163,709.

He warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs that the Seme border corridor would remain under heightened surveillance.

“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal: Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage,” he said.

Seme Customs Revenue Rises by 24.45%

Beyond enforcement, the Customs Area Controller said the Command had recorded significant growth in revenue collection while continuing to facilitate legitimate trade.

He disclosed that the Seme Area Command generated ₦15,941,258,676.01 in 2025.

Between January and July 2026, however, the Command generated ₦19,840,280,788.50.

Kaila said the seven-month performance surpassed the Command's entire 2025 revenue collection by ₦3,899,022,112.49, representing a 24.45 per cent increase.

He attributed the improved performance to enhanced compliance, stronger stakeholder engagement and increased operational efficiency.

The Customs boss stressed that enforcement and trade facilitation were complementary aspects of the Service's mandate.

He said the Command would continue to create an enabling environment for compliant traders to conduct legitimate cross-border business with greater ease and predictability, while denying smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy.

Kaila reaffirmed the Command's commitment 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 the Seme corridor does not become a safe haven for smugglers.

He commended sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and intelligence sharing, while also acknowledging the media's role in promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service.