In a sustained clampdown on smuggling and illicit trade activities along the Nigeria–Benin Republic border, the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a revenue haul of over ₦847 million and seized hard drugs valued at ₦622 million and other contrabands between March 14 and May 13, 2025.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Dr. Ben Oramalugo, made this known during a media briefing held on Tuesday at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, Seme-Krake.
Speaking during the engagement, Comptroller Oramalugo revealed that the Command generated a total revenue of ₦847,058,879.30 in the month of April 2025 alone. He attributed this feat to the unwavering commitment and professionalism of his officers, alongside stringent measures to block all revenue leakages and ensure that all legitimate earnings due to the Federal Government were collected without compromise.
In alignment with the Federal Government’s drive towards economic diversification through non-oil exports, the Command facilitated the movement of 2,029 trucks carrying over 88,000 metric tonnes of made-in-Nigeria goods during the review period. These exports had a Free On Board (FOB) value of over ₦16.9 billion, while the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees stood at ₦84.5 million.
Comptroller Oramalugo emphasized that this reflected the Command’s strategic role in enabling trade, supporting local manufacturers, and contributing to national economic growth.
On the enforcement front, Dr Oramalugo noted that on March 28, 2025, operatives intercepted a motorcyclist suspected of conveying uncustomed goods along Owode Road. He added that the rider fled, abandoning a bag which, upon inspection, was found to contain large quantities of foreign coins including Two-Dollar coins, One-Pound coins, 25 Canadian cents, Fifty Pence, Twenty Pence, Ten Pence, and Five Pence pieces.
In a similar operation on April 1, 2025, another interception along the Badagry-Seme expressway led to the discovery of foreign coins in a Mazda vehicle, with the total value of the seized items amounting to ₦8,975,281.00. According to the CAC, these coins fall under prohibited items as stipulated in Schedule 4, Item 18 of the Common External Tariff (CET), which forbids the importation of “Silver or Metal Alloy Coins not being legal tender in Nigeria.”
A more alarming seizure occurred on May 9, 2025, when operatives, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a red Toyota Avensis vehicle along the Badagry-Lagos expressway. A search revealed six canisters of corrosive mercury, suspected to be materials for improvised explosive devices, hidden beneath five cartons of the Holy Qur’an. One suspect was apprehended in connection with this seizure.
Further highlighting the Command’s operational success, Comptroller Oramalugo stated that other seizures during the period included 553 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 1,415 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 750 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (30kg each), 30 cartons of tobacco, 50 cartons of tomato ketchup, one boat with an engine, 50 bales of second-hand clothing, five vehicles used for conveyance, and unregistered pharmaceuticals, including 420 bottles of CA-C100 Vitamin C and Haldol injections. The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seized items amounted to ₦669,785,236.00.
As part of ongoing inter-agency collaboration, the Command pledged to hand over the seized cannabis, corrosive mercury, and unregistered pharmaceuticals to relevant agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Comptroller Oramalugo used the occasion to caution the public against fraudulent individuals impersonating Customs officers on social media platforms, falsely claiming to auction vehicles or other goods. He reiterated that the Nigeria Customs Service does not conduct auctions or sales through WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, or any unverified platforms, urging the public to verify any communication through the Service’s official channels.
Dr Oramalugo also expressed gratitude to his officers and stakeholders, including the media, for their continued support, dedication, and professionalism. He reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to its core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling enforcement. He further appealed to parents and guardians in border communities to discourage their wards from engaging in smuggling activities or obstructing law enforcement operations.
The Seme Area Command, according to Comptroller Oramalugo, remains resolute in its efforts to safeguard national economic interests and security.
Representing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Deputy Area Commander, Austines Ojojo commended the Nigeria Customs Service for the timely and significant seizures as well as the spirit of collaboration between the agencies. He further assured that the NDLEA would ensure the confiscated drugs do not find their way back into the public, pledging continued support in the war against drug trafficking and abuse.
