Seme Customs Intercept 5 Trucks Loaded with Smuggled Rice, Clothes, and Cannabis
As part of its anti-smuggling operations, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Seme Border Command recently intercepted five trucks loaded with smuggled goods, including 2,800 bags of 50kg rice and used clothing.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Border Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, PhD, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday at the Seme Border.
He said, “For the past two weeks, from July 1st to July 19th, 2025, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence and coordinated enforcement strategies, successfully intercepted and seized a total of five trucks loaded with smuggled goods along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.”
“The trucks were found to contain a total of 2,800 foreign parboiled rice 50Kg each, and 250 bales of used clothing. The Duty Paid Value of the seized rice and the means of conveyance (trucks) is N919,500,626.00.”
Oramalugo observed disclosed other notable seizures during the period include; 898 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), 1,319 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 40 bags of Sugar (50kg each), 64 bags of flour (50kg each), 50 cartons of Ketchup Tomato, 1 boat and engine, 20 bales of second-hand clothing, 4 bales of used shoes”.
According to him, the total value of all seizures during the period under review amounted to ₦1,268,794,474.00. He attributed the successful operation to the vigilance, resilience, and doggedness of the officers and men of the Seme Area Command, as well as the collaborative support from other security agencies, particularly the Nigerian military.
Speaking on the rice seizures, he emphasized that the Federal Government’s ban on rice importation through land borders is aimed at protecting local rice farmers and millers, thereby reducing the country’s dependency on imported rice.
“Nigeria is the highest producer of rice in Africa, with an annual output exceeding 8 million metric tonnes, surpassing Egypt and Tanzania. However, our rice mills continue to face challenges due to insufficient patronage, which hampers their ability to operate at full capacity,” he remarked.
Giving an update on non-oil exports, he said the Command facilitated the movement of 1,837 trucks, equivalent to over 116,723.26MT of made-in-Nigeria goods”.
“These exports had a Free On Board (FOB) value of N22,368,388,976.10k only. While the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees stood at N111,841,944.87K) only,” the Seme Customs boss said.
Meanwhile, he noted that between May and July 2025 Seme Area Command, through commitment and professionalism, has generated a total revenue of N1,593,676,123.26″.
Upon receiving the seized Cannabis Sativa, the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Area Command—represented by Idris Muhammed—reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to securing the nation.
He also pledged continued collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and assured that further investigations and prosecution of suspects would follow.
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