The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has made significant seizures of smuggled goods worth over ₦1.2 billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV) between May 14 and July 24, 2025.
Briefing the press on the activities of the command, the Customs Area Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo said the command’s operatives, acting on credible intelligence and coordinated enforcement strategies, have been working tirelessly to prevent smuggling activities and enforce customs regulations.
He said among the seizures command includes various goods were:
- 898 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (marijuana)
- 1,319 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each)
- 40 bags of sugar and 64 bags of flour (50kg each)
- 50 cartons of tomato ketchup
- 1 boat and engine
- 20 bales of second-hand clothing and 4 bales of used shoes
In a recent operation between July 1 and July 19, 2025, the command intercepted and seized five trucks laden with smuggled goods along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor. The seized items include:
- 2,800 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each)
- 250 bales of second-hand clothing
Dr Oramalugo said the command generated significant revenue, recording over ₦1.5 billion in revenue between May and July 2025. The efforts to boost revenue collection and combat smuggling activities have been yielding positive results.
The command has also facilitated the export of Nigerian goods, including:
- 1,837 export trucks
- 116,723.26 metric tonnes of goods
- ₦22,368,388,976.10 in Free On Board (FOB) value
- ₦111,841,944.87 in NESS fees
“The command remains committed to enforcing customs regulations, promoting lawful trade, and tightening border security. The command will continue to work tirelessly to prevent smuggling activities and ensure the safety and security of the nation”, he said.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has demonstrated its commitment to enforcing customs regulations and combating smuggling activities as efforts have yielded significant results, including substantial seizures and revenue generation. The command will continue to work towards ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
