Seme Area Command Intercepts Cartridges of Explosive, Sacks of Expired Noodles, Parcels of Cannabis Amongst Others

By Stella Okocha 

The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command has intercepted 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilograms; and 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor.

373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes, among other seizures were also intercepted.

Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed this worrisome seizure on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, while speaking to journalists, sister agencies and stakeholders during a press briefing at the Seme Border.

Compt Kaila emphasized that the gathering was not merely to display seizures, but to tell the story behind them, stating that every interception made by the Command represents a deliberate choice between patriotism and greed, between lawful trade and criminality, between protecting Nigerians and allowing dangerous goods to infiltrate our borders.

According to the CAC, the intercepted truck of the expired noodles was deceptively declared to be carrying food items, but acting on intelligence and sustained surveillance, officers subjected the consignment to thorough examination and uncovered what it contains.

“What was discovered was deeply disturbing because many of the products had already deteriorated and were visibly decomposing. Intelligence further revealed that the intention was to repackage, relabel and introduce these products into Nigerian markets for unsuspecting consumers. Had this shipment succeeded, countless families would have been exposed to serious health hazards ranging from food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases to other life-threatening medical complications” he said.

He highlighted that the seizure directly concerns the health and well-being of millions of Nigerians, and by intercepting the products, the NCS has once again demonstrated that border security is also a form of public health protection. “Every child, every family and every Nigerian has been protected from what could have become a silent public health disaster”, Kaila words.

On the seized explosives, Kaila emphasized that the seizures displayed is one that poses perhaps the greatest threat to national security.

“Explosives of this nature have devastating consequences when they fall into the hands of criminal elements. They have the potential to facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes capable of threatening national peace and security. The successful interception of these explosives demonstrates the vigilance, professionalism and intelligence-driven operations of our officers, working in close collaboration with sister security agencies. Considering the sensitive nature of the seizure, the explosive materials have already been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation”, Kaila explained.

Speaking on the illicit drugs, Kaila said the fight against illicit drugs remains one of the Service’s critical contributions to national security and public safety.

According to him, “These are not ordinary commodities, they are dangerous products capable of destroying lives, fueling criminality, encouraging substance abuse and undermining the future of our young people. The illicit drugs intercepted are often linked to cultism, armed robbery, violent crimes and other social vices, while smuggled cigarettes evade health regulations, avoid payment of statutory duties and expose consumers to products outside approved quality standards. Through these interceptions, the Seme Area Command has disrupted criminal supply chains and prevented these dangerous products from reaching our communities”.

He added that the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products seized by the Command will be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary action, while the explosive materials (along with one suspect) have already been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit due to their highly sensitive nature.

Compt Kaila also disclosed that as part of its anti-smuggling efforts, the Command also intercepted: One used speedboat, One used Water Bike, One used Toyota Land Cruiser (2017 Model), One used Toyota RAV4 (2016 Model) and One used Nissan Versa (2010 Model)

all with the Duty Paid Value of all items is ₦365,163,709

Furthermore, he added that in separate enforcement operations conducted across different flashpoints within their area of responsibility, the Command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, smuggled through illegal routes. “Beyond denying government legitimate revenue, such illicit importation undermines the Federal Government’s agricultural policies, discourages local rice production and threatens the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers”Kaila said.

Compt Kaila added that the items displayed are more than confiscated contraband, but they are evidence of the collaboration, professionalism and commitment of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service to protect the nation, and every seizure recorded reflects our resolve to secure Nigeria’s borders, facilitate legitimate trade, generate revenue for national development and deny criminal networks the opportunity to undermine our economy, security and public health.

He emphasized their renewed resolve to fight smuggling and cross-border crimes, using intelligence and continues to disrupt the activities of those bent on sabotaging our economy.

He warned those engaged in smuggling activities, stating that their message remains unequivocal, “Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage”.

On revenue performance and trade facilitation, he said while enforcement remains highly visible, it represents only one dimension of their statutory responsibilities. He added that the second is facilitating legitimate trade while generating revenue for national development.

“In 2025, the Seme Area Command generated a total revenue of ₦15,941,258,676.01. That achievement reflected improved compliance, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and strengthened operational efficiency. Yet our revenue performance in 2026 has been even more remarkable, between January and July 2026, the Command generated ₦19,840,280,788.50.

“This means that within only seven months, the Command has surpassed its entire twelve-month revenue collection for 2025 by ₦3,899,022,112.49, representing a 24.45 per cent increase”, kaila stated.

He added that this achievement demonstrates that effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities. “While we continue to deny smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy, we remain equally committed to creating an enabling environment for compliant traders to conduct legitimate business with ease and predictability” he said.

He affirms that the achievements presented reflect the dedication and resilience of officers and men of the Seme Area Command, who continue to work tirelessly in protecting the nation from economic saboteurs and transnational criminal networks.

He added that they’re committed to supporting the Federal Government’s economic reforms, promoting regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), facilitating compliant trade and ensuring that smugglers have no safe haven within our area of responsibility.

He appreciates all our sister security and government regulatory bodies for their unwavering cooperation, intelligence sharing and commitment to national security, and importantly thank members of the media for their continued partnership in informing Nigerians and projecting the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service. “Your role remains indispensable in promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in our operations” he concluded.