The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has intercepted various contraband items, including illicit drugs and expired flour imported from Egypt, with a combined duty-paid value of ₦1.99 billion.
The Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, disclosed this on Thursday during his maiden press briefing at the Seme Border, Lagos State.
According to Adenuga, the expired flour — about 10,000 bags loaded in five trucks — had a duty-paid value of ₦1.2 billion. He warned that the products, if not intercepted, could have endangered public health.
“The expired flour poses serious health risks such as infections, food poisoning, and possible long-term complications. Allowing such products into our markets would have been a grave danger to Nigerians,” he said.
Within the same period, between September 1 and October 9, 2025, the command also seized 1,104 parcels of cannabis sativa and 120 packs of tramadol, handing over two suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
“Other items recovered include 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 150 bales of second-hand clothing, 169 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, and five used vehicles,” the Customs boss added.
Adenuga condemned smuggling as an act of economic sabotage that deprives the country of vital revenue and undermines legitimate businesses.
“Funds channeled into illegal trade could have been invested in small and medium enterprises that create jobs and stimulate economic growth,” he said.
The Seme Border, located in Badagry, Lagos State, is one of Nigeria’s busiest land borders and a major link on the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, which facilitates up to 70 percent of trade within the West African region.
Speaking on legitimate trade activities, Adenuga revealed that the command facilitated non-oil exports totaling 53,989 metric tonnes of goods valued at ₦7.9 billion, attracting a Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme fee of ₦39.8 million.
The exports, he said, consisted mainly of agricultural produce and manufactured goods.
He also noted that revenue generation at the command had improved significantly, with ₦1.5 billion collected in September, representing a 182 percent increase from ₦531.4 million recorded in August.
“Our renewed focus on trade facilitation, improved inter-agency collaboration, and deployment of technology have simplified processes, reduced transaction costs, and boosted revenue,” Adenuga stated.
He commended the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Badagry for its continuous support in intercepting smuggled goods along waterways.
The Customs Area Controller assured that the command would continue to balance its core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security through enhanced intelligence and modern border management strategies.
