In a major operation underscoring the nexus between border security and public health, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted a cache of contraband goods, including 10,000 bags of expired flour from Egypt and illicit drugs, valued at N1.99 billion, along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor between September 1 and October 9, 2025.
The Customs Area Controller, Wale Adenuga, disclosed this on Thursday during his maiden press briefing at the command headquarters in Seme, Badagry, Lagos State, where he explained that the expired flour, concealed in five trucks and valued at N1.2 billion, could have posed grave public health risks if it had penetrated Nigerian markets.
“The products had long exceeded their shelf life and could have triggered food poisoning, infections, and other long-term health complications,” Adenuga warned.
“Our vigilance has once again prevented dangerous and substandard products from finding their way into homes across the country.”
Seme Border, Nigeria’s busiest land border and a critical link on the 1,028-kilometre Lagos–Abidjan Highway that connects five West African countries, remains both a hub for legitimate trade and a target for smugglers seeking to exploit its vast network.
Illicit Drugs, Used Vehicles, and Rice Among Seized Items
Beyond the expired flour, Adenuga said officers of the command also seized 1,104 parcels of cannabis sativa, 120 packs of tramadol, and 169 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup.
Two suspects have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Other seized items within the review period include: 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 150 bales of second-hand clothing, and Five used vehicles.
Adenuga described smuggling as “an act of economic sabotage” that deprives the nation of critical revenue and undermines public safety.
“Resources lost to smuggling could have supported small businesses, created jobs, and strengthened the economy,” he said.
Export Boom Signals Growing Confidence in Seme Corridor
On the export front, Adenuga reported a surge in non-oil exports totaling 53,989.46 metric tonnes of goods, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of N7.9 billion and N39.8 million paid in Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees.
He noted that the exported goods comprised agricultural produce and locally manufactured products — a development he said reflects renewed confidence among exporters in Seme as a viable trade hub under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
Revenue Soars 182% Amid Reforms and Inter-Agency Collaboration
In a significant revenue performance, the command generated N1.5 billion in September 2025, up from N531.4 million in August, marking a 182 per cent increase.
Adenuga attributed the boost to improved trade facilitation, streamlined procedures, and enhanced inter-agency cooperation, particularly with the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Badagry, which has supported joint anti-smuggling patrols along waterways.
“We are leveraging technology and intelligence-driven operations to balance our core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security,” he said.
“Our focus on transparency and modernisation has reduced transaction costs, improved compliance, and strengthened trust among stakeholders.”
Continuity in Anti-Smuggling Operations
Adenuga also acknowledged the efforts of his predecessor, Dr. Ben Oramalugo (Rtd), whose tenure from February to September 2025 yielded multiple high-profile seizures, including bags of rice, cannabis sativa, and second-hand clothing, as part of the Service’s broader campaign to curb cross-border smuggling along the Lagos–Abidjan route.
Despite these successes, smuggling through land borders remains a persistent challenge, particularly in prohibited goods such as rice, used clothing, and substandard consumables.
Customs authorities say continuous intelligence gathering, technological innovation, and regional cooperation will remain central to securing Nigeria’s borders and protecting its citizens.
