SEME Command Seizes Trailer Load Of Expired Noodles, 1,268 Bags Of Rice, Hard Drugs, Other Goods Worth Over #365.2m ...Generates #19.84b In Seven Months

The Seme Badagry Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted a trailer load of expired noodles which were stuffed in 1,306 sacks of 50kg each falsely declared as food products, just as the command equally intercepted and seized 3,300 explosive cartridges along the Seme border corridor.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila stated this while addressing journalist at the command yesterday, Tuesday 11th August 2026.

The command in it's anti Smuggling operations also seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg, and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.

Other seizures made within the period under review includes; One used speedboat, One used Water Bike, One used Toyota Land Cruiser (2017 Model), One used Toyota RAV4 (2016 Model) and One used Nissan Versa (2010 Model). All intercepted items according to the CAC has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦365,163,709.

Comptroller Kaila said these seizures reflected the Intelligence-Driven Operations of the officers and men of the command which is aimed at protecting public health, national security and the Nigerian economy.

In the area of trade facilitation and revenue generation, Compt. Kaila stated that the command, between January and July 2026, has generated a total of  ₦19,840,280,788.50. which means that the command within seven months of 2026 has surpassed the total revenue of ₦15,941,258,676.01generated in the year 2025 by ₦3,899,022,112.49 representing an increase of 24.45 per cent.

These achievement according to Kaila demonstrates that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities. He equally attributed the growth to stronger compliance, stakeholder engagement, operational efficiency and intensified enforcement against smuggling.

He emphasized that the Command remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It’s also saddled with the responsibility of protecting public health by blocking harmful products.

He added that the Command will continue to support government agricultural policies by curbing rice smuggling as well as working closely with sister agencies like NDLEA and NAFDAC to disrupt illicit supply chains.

Kaila thanked sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and the media for its partnership in projecting the activities of the Service.

He warned smugglers that intelligence-driven operations have been intensified and vowed continued collaboration with security agencies to frustrate criminal activities along the border corridors.

The seized hard drugs were handed over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation. NDLEA was represented by the Deputy Area Commander, Narcotics, Deputy Controller Adewale N. Adebisi who commented that the synergy between the NCS and the NDLEA can only grow stronger for the fight against the importation and use of hard drugs especially in combating crime and other criminalities in the country.

In the same vain, the seized Tramadol and Noodles were equally handed over to the NAFDAC Director of Seme Area Command, Dr. Nura Audu.  While responding, Dr. Nura decried the way and manner Nigerians keep bringing in toxic food substances which are harmful to the body to be sold to fellow citizens for consumption.  He warned Nigerians to keep away from buying food items that sold against the properly known packages from the manufacturers saying that such food items are expired or about to expire.  He Noted that this habits are major causes of serious and underlining health challenges people are being faced with in recent times.

He urged the media and well meaning Nigerians to carry out the campaign against the buying and consumption of these toxic food items to safeguard public health of the citizens.