BY GODWIN OBI
In a major breakthrough against cross-border crime, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, have intercepted a massive cache of hard drugs, expired flour, and other contraband goods worth ₦1.99 billion, along the busy Lagos–Abidjan Corridor.
The operation, which spanned from September 1 to October 9, 2025, exposed a dangerous smuggling network attempting to flood Nigerian markets with expired flour imported from Egypt and illicit drugs concealed in vehicles and cargo trucks.
Addressing journalists during his maiden press briefing at the Seme Border on Thursday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, revealed that 10,000 bags of expired flour, valued at ₦1.2 billion, were seized after being traced to five heavily loaded trucks.
“These products were unfit for human consumption and posed severe health risks. If they had found their way into the Nigerian market, they could have caused widespread infections, food poisoning, and long-term medical complications,” Adenuga warned.
The dramatic seizure also included 1,104 parcels of cannabis sativa, 120 packs of Tramadol, and 169 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, in addition to 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 150 bales of used clothing, and five used vehicles. Two suspects have already been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Situated in Badagry, Lagos State, the Seme Border is Nigeria’s busiest land gateway and a key segment of the 1,028 km Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, which handles nearly 70 percent of West Africa’s trade. Its significance also makes it a hotspot for smugglers, traffickers, and economic saboteurs.
Adenuga condemned smuggling as a “grave threat to national security and economic growth,” stressing that illicit trade not only drains government revenue but also undermines local industries and job creation.
“Every truckload of smuggled goods represents stolen opportunities — resources that should build our economy, not destroy it,” he said.
On the flip side, the Command also recorded impressive export performance within the same period. Adenuga disclosed that Seme facilitated non-oil exports totaling 53,989.46 metric tonnes, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of ₦7.9 billion, while generating ₦1.5 billion in revenue in September alone — a 182 percent surge from ₦531.4 million in August.
He credited the revenue boost to enhanced intelligence gathering, tighter inter-agency coordination, and Customs’ ongoing modernisation drive, which simplifies trade procedures and reduces transaction costs for legitimate exporters.
Adenuga also commended the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base, Badagry, for its consistent support in intercepting smuggled rice along the waterways.
He reaffirmed the command’s resolve to balance revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security, adding that technology-driven intelligence will remain key to dismantling smuggling syndicates operating within the corridor.
The new Seme Area Controller’s achievements follow a strong legacy left by his predecessor, Dr. Ben Oramalugo (Rtd), who led several high-profile seizures earlier in 2025. Together, their efforts underscore the Customs Service’s unrelenting war on smugglers and its mission to protect Nigeria’s borders from economic saboteurs.
“We are determined to make smuggling unattractive,” Adenuga declared. “Our message is clear — the era of impunity at Seme is over.”
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