₦1.2 Billion Worth of Smuggled Goods Seized: Seme Customs Command Delivers Strong Warning to Smugglers


  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has announced the seizure of smuggled goods valued at a staggering ₦1.26 billion between May 14 and July 24, 2025. The seizures underline the Command’s relentless fight against economic sabotage and cross-border smuggling.

Speaking on the development, Comptroller Dr. Ben Oramalugo, PhD, described the operations as a “bold statement” that Seme will never serve as a haven for smugglers. He praised his officers’ determination and emphasized the Command's threefold mission: border security, revenue generation, and trade facilitation.


Between July 1 and 19 alone, Customs operatives—acting on intelligence—intercepted five trucks along the busy Lagos-Abidjan corridor, loaded with: two thousand eight hundred (2,800) bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), two hundred fifty (250) bales of second-hand clothing, and the duty-paid value (DPV) of the intercepted trucks and their contents was put at Nine Hundred and Nineteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Six Naira  ( ₦919.500.626. 00k million)

Additional seizures during the two-month period included: eight hundred and ninty-eight (898) parcels of cannabis sativa and one thousand three hundred and nineteen (1,319) bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each)

Other notable seizures during the period include: Eight Hundred and Ninety Eight (898) parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), One Thousand Three Hundred and Nineteen (1,319) bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), Forty (40) bags of Sugar (50kg each), Sixty-Four (64) bags of Flour (50kg each), Fifty (50) cartons of Ketchup Tomato, One (1) boat and engine, Twenty (20) bales of second-hand clothing, Four (4) bales of used shoes
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seizures during the period under review is One Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Four Naira (₦1,268,794,474.00k) only.


“These seizures are not just numbers,” Oramalugo stated. “They reflect our unyielding commitment to protecting Nigeria’s economy and enforcing our trade laws.”


Despite numerous challenges, the Command generated total revenue of One Billion, Five Hundred and Ninety-Three Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-Three Naira, Twenty-Six Kobo (₦1,593,676,123.26k) for the months of May and June 2025.  a figure reflecting its efforts to plug revenue leakages and ensure full remittance to the Federal Government.

On the export front, the Command facilitated In line with the Federal Government’s agenda on economic diversification through non-oil exports, the Command facilitated the movement of One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Seven (1,837) trucks, equivalent to over One Hundred and Sixteen Thousand metric tonnes (116,723.26MT) of made-in-Nigeria goods. These exports had a Free On Board (FOB) value of Twenty-Two Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira and Ten Kobo (₦22,368,388,976.10k) only. While the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees stood at One Hundred and Eleven Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Four Naira and Eighty-Seven Kobo (₦111,841,944.87K) only movement of 116,723 metric tonnes of made-in-Nigeria products via 1,837 trucks, with a boost to Nigeria’s non-oil export economy.


The seizures also highlight a bigger issue: the persistent smuggling of foreign rice despite Nigeria’s strides in self-sufficiency. With over 8 million metric tonnes of rice produced annually, Nigeria now leads Africa in rice production. Yet, local mills continue to struggle due to weak patronage and the influx of cheaper, smuggled rice.

“Every smuggled bag chips away at the livelihood of Nigerian farmers,” Oramalugo warned. “We cannot allow that to continue.”


Acknowledging the support of sister agencies, the Customs boss commended the Nigerian military for reinforcing Customs operations when threats escalated. He noted that the seized cannabis would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation a testament to the strong synergy between Customs and other security outfits.

In a strategic move, the Command also received 12 new patrol vehicles from the Customs Headquarters already making a significant impact in patrolling and intercepting smuggled goods along the corridor.


While assuring legitimate traders that the Lagos-Abidjan corridor remains open and safe for business, Oramalugo issued a stern warning to criminals:

“Steer clear of this corridor, as the Seme Area Command will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law upon you., with increasing operational capability, strategic collaborations, and a clear sense of purpose, the Seme Area Command is making it clear: Nigeria’s borders are no longer porous entry points but fortified strongholds of law, order, and economic protection" he concluded



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