Seme Customs to The Rescue, Confiscates N365M Killer Noodles, Illicit Drugs, Explosives, As Revenue Soars With ₦19.8BN
Seme Customs to The Rescue, Confiscates N365M Killer Noodles, Illicit Drugs, Explosives, As Revenue Soars With ₦19.8BN
By Jerry Aguigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has once again demonstrated the bite in its anti-smuggling operations rescuing Nigerians from health complications by seizing N365 million worth of toxic noodles. The Command further showed its stranglehold on smugglers with the interception of other prohibited goods such as Illicit drugs, Cigarettes and explosive materials valued at ₦365,163,709 in Duty Paid Value.
Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, Seme Customs Area Controller disclosed this on Tuesday while taking Journalists round the displayed seizures at the Command’s Headquarters at Border.
Kaila said this successful intervention was a result of credible intelligence and sustained surveillance which led officers to intercept a truck falsely declared to be conveying food items. Upon examination, officers discovered 1,306 sacks of expired and decomposing noodles, each weighing 50kg.
This discovery, according to him, was deeply disturbing as Intelligence revealed that the plan was to repackage and relabel these toxic products for sale to unsuspecting Nigerians.
“Had we not intercepted it, millions of families would have been exposed to food poisoning, gastrointestinal diseases and other life-threatening health complications. This operation proves that border security is public health protection,” he stated.
In separate coordinated operations across flashpoints within the Command’s jurisdiction, officers also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50kg each, smuggled through illegal routes.
Comptroller Kaila noted that such smuggling not only deprives government of revenue but also undermines Federal Government policies on agriculture, discourages local rice production, and threatens the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
Other drugs and dangerous substances, the Command seized are:373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking,250mg,
69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.
“These substances destroy lives, fuel cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes. They undermine the future of our youths. Smuggled cigarettes also evade health regulations and statutory duties,” Kaila disclosed.
In a critical security intervention, officers also intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor.
The CAC described the explosives as capable of facilitating terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. He confirmed that the explosives and one suspect have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.
Other items seized include 1 used speedboat, 1 used water bike, 1 Toyota Land Cruiser 2017, 1 Toyota RAV4 2016, and 1 Nissan Versa 2010.
Sounding a note of warning, the Area Controller said,
Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage
Strengthening its revenue profile, Seme Command generated ₦19,840,280,788.50 between January and July 2026.
This surpasses the entire 2025 collection of ₦15,941,258,676.01 by ₦3,899,022,112.49, representing a 24.45% increase within just 7 months. This shows that effective enforcement and trade facilitation go hand in hand, according to Kaila.
The seized drugs and unregistered pharmaceuticals where handed over to NDLEA and NAFDAC for further investigation,even as the Command continues to support the federal government economic reforms, AfCFTA trade, and border security.
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