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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a major enforcement breakthrough with the interception of a large consignment of 25kg cocaine on Tuesday by operatives of the Seme Area Command.
Briefing journalists, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, DCG Timi Bomodi, disclosed that the seizure was made in the early hours of Tuesday, at about 3:00 a.m along the Badagry–Seme axis.
According to him, officers acting on credible intelligence intercepted a Toyota Highlander conveying 22 parcels of substances suspected to be cocaine, and one suspect, was arrested in connection with the consignment.
DCG Bomodi described the operation as a product of professionalism, vigilance and effective intelligence deployment by the Seme Area Command under the distinguished leadership of Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
He noted that the seizure aligns with the provisions of Section 55(1)(c) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which mandates the Service to enforce prohibitions and restrictions aimed at protecting public health and national security.
In line with inter-agency collaboration and the existing Memorandum of Understanding, the seized drugs, the vehicle and the suspect were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), represented by Assistant Commander General, ACG Aliyu Wali, NDLEA Lagos Strategic Command.
DCG Bomodi said the successful operation reflects the spirit of the 2026 International Customs Day theme by the World Customs Organization: “Customs Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment.”
Bomodi stressed that beyond revenue generation and trade facilitation, the core mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service remains the protection of society from threats such as smuggling, illicit trade and drug trafficking.
He, however, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustained vigilance, intelligence-led operations and stronger partnerships with sister agencies to ensure a safer and healthier Nigeria.
The substances, 22 packages of cocaine, and suspect were handed over to the NDLEA representative, in line with interagency collaboration between Customs and the NDLEA.
In his remarks, NDLEA Assistant Commander General, Lagos Strategic Command, ACG Aliyu Wali, estimated the retail value of the cocaine as N40million per kilogramme while the wholesale value was N14million per kilogramme; hence the total retail value amounts to N1billion.
On his part, the Area Controller, Seme Customs Command, Comptroller Adenuga, disclosed that the primary intel that led to the interception was derived from the Comptroller General of Customs, Adeniyi.
“Having a Customs boss who has risen to the distinguished position of Chairman of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council is a huge advantage because he had this intelligence for over two months and he kept following up until the drugs were intercepted,” Adenuga said.
