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The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted expired noodles, foreign parboiled rice, Cannabis Sativa, pharmaceutical products, cigarettes and other contraband with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million.
The seizures, made in separate enforcement operations, included 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, pharmaceutical products and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes. Other items also intercepted were; a used speedboat, water bike and three vehicles.
Customs Area Controller, Seme Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed the seizures at a press briefing on Tuesday, saying the expired noodles were intercepted following credible intelligence.
According to him, the consignment had been deceptively declared as food items, but physical examination revealed that several of the noodles had deteriorated and were visibly decomposing.
Intelligence, he added, indicated that the products were destined for repackaging, relabelling and eventual distribution in 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,” Kaila said.
The Command also seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, after they were smuggled through illegal routes.
Kaila said the interception was part of efforts to curb illicit importation, protect government revenue and support the Federal Government’s agricultural policies.
He warned that the continued smuggling of foreign rice undermined domestic production and threatened the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
In its anti-drug enforcement operations, the Command intercepted 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg and 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg.
The seized items, Kaila said, posed significant public health risks, while the smuggled cigarettes evaded regulatory controls and applicable duties.
The vehicles intercepted included a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2016 Toyota RAV4 and 2010 Nissan Versa.
The total DPV of all the items displayed at the briefing was put at N365,163,709.
“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal: Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage,” Kaila said.
Meanwhile, the Seme Area Command generated N19.84 billion between January and July 2026, exceeding its entire revenue collection for 2025.
The seven-month collection represents an increase of N3.90 billion, or 24.45 per cent, over the N15.94 billion collected during the whole of 2025.
Kaila attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced compliance, sustained stakeholder engagement and stronger operational efficiency.
He said the performance demonstrated that effective enforcement could be pursued alongside trade facilitation, noting that the Command remained committed to creating an enabling environment for compliant traders while disrupting smuggling networks.
The Customs Area Controller also reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic reforms, facilitating legitimate trade and promoting regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The seized illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products have been 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 appropriate action.
Kaila commended sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and intelligence sharing, while also acknowledging the media’s role in informing the public about the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service.
