SEME CUSTOMS INTERCEPTS 3,300 CARTRIDGES, EXPIRED NOODLES AND OTHER CONTRABAND WORTH ₦365.1M

LAGOS — The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 3,300 cartridges and a large cache of other contraband at the Seme border, highlighting the growing security and public health risks associated with illicit cross-border trade.

The seizures were made within the last two months, according to the Customs Area Controller of the Seme Area Command, Abdullahi Kaila. Kaila disclosed the interceptions while displaying the seized items at the command on Tuesday.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the seizures included 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, pharmaceutical products, 310,000 sticks of cigarettes and several vehicles and watercraft.

The command also intercepted 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes.The noodles were reportedly concealed in a truck that had been deceptively declared as carrying food items.

CARTRIDGES TRIGGER SECURITY CONCERNS

Kaila described the interception of the 3,300 cartridges as particularly sensitive because of the potential security implications.

“Our officers intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor,” he said.

He warned that such materials could have devastating consequences if they reached criminal networks.

According to him, explosives of that nature could facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes. ValidViewNetwork reports that the seized cartridges have already been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.

One suspect connected with the seizure was also transferred to the police unit. The development underscores the security dimension of border control, where customs enforcement can extend beyond revenue protection into the prevention of violent crime.

EXPIRED NOODLES FOUND IN TRUCK

The discovery of the expired noodles presented a different but equally disturbing dimension of the operation. Kaila said intelligence-led surveillance prompted officers to subject a truck declared to be carrying food items to a thorough examination.

The inspection allegedly uncovered 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles. Each sack reportedly weighed 50 kilogrammes. Kaila said some of the products had deteriorated and were visibly decomposing.

More troubling was the intelligence gathered by the command concerning the alleged intended destination of the products.He said the investigation indicated that the noodles were allegedly intended for repackaging and relabelling before being introduced into Nigerian markets.

If established, such an operation would expose unsuspecting consumers to potentially dangerous food products.It also demonstrates how smuggling can move beyond economic offences into direct threats to public health.

DRUGS, CIGARETTES AND PHARMACEUTICALS SEIZED

The command also reported the seizure of 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg and 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg.

A total of 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes were also intercepted. Kaila said the illicit drugs could contribute to cultism, armed robbery, violent crime and other social problems. He also noted that smuggled cigarettes evade health regulations and statutory duties.

The seized illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products are expected to be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and necessary action.

FOREIGN RICE ALSO INTERCEPTED

The enforcement operation extended to agricultural products. Customs officers intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, allegedly smuggled through illegal routes.

Kaila argued that such smuggling does more than deny the government revenue. He said it undermines Federal Government agricultural policies, discourages domestic rice production and threatens Nigerian farmers.

The combined duty-paid value of the items displayed by the command was put at ₦365.1m.

CUSTOMS REVENUE SURGES

Beyond the seizures, the Seme Area Command highlighted a significant increase in revenue generation. Kaila said the command generated ₦15.94bn in 2025. Between January and July 2026, however, the command generated ₦19.84bn.

According to him, the seven-month figure surpassed the entire revenue generated in 2025 by ₦3.89bn. He put the increase at 24.45 per cent.

“This means that within only seven months, the command has surpassed what it collected as revenue in the entire 2025 by N3.89bn, representing a 24.45 per cent increase,” Kaila said.

The figures suggest that the command’s responsibilities extend beyond stopping smugglers. It must also facilitate legitimate trade and create a predictable environment for compliant businesses operating across the border.

SEME’S NEW MESSAGE TO SMUGGLERS

Kaila said the command’s intelligence-driven strategy was producing results and disrupting criminal supply chains. He warned smugglers that the border corridor would no longer provide an easy route for economic sabotage.

“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal: Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage,” he said.

The command also pledged to support the Federal Government’s economic reforms and facilitate legitimate regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

That balance will be critical.Nigeria needs effective border control, but it also needs efficient legitimate trade. A border that catches contraband but suffocates lawful commerce is not functioning properly.

Similarly, a border that facilitates trade while allowing explosives, drugs and dangerous food products to pass unchecked creates an even greater national risk.

The latest seizures at Seme reveal that Nigeria’s smuggling problem is far more complicated than the familiar images of bags of rice crossing illegal routes.

The haul reportedly included materials capable of feeding criminal networks, drugs capable of fuelling substance abuse, expired food capable of threatening consumers and goods capable of undermining domestic industries.

The interception of 3,300 cartridges is particularly significant because of the possible security consequences.

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But the discovery of allegedly decomposing noodles intended for possible resale raises another uncomfortable question: how many dangerous products have already crossed the border unnoticed?

ValidViewNetwork reports that effective border security must ultimately be measured not only by the value of what officers seize but also by what they prevent from reaching Nigerian communities.

The Seme command’s ₦19.84bn revenue performance is significant. So are the ₦365.1m worth of seized goods.

But the real victory will come when Nigeria’s borders become hostile to criminal networks while remaining open to legitimate trade. Until then, every seizure is both an achievement and a reminder of how much more remains to be done.