SEME COMMAND SEIZES 1,268 BAGS OF RICE, TRAMADOL, CANNABIS INDICA, OTHERS AS COMMAND GENERATES OVER ₦19.84B IN 7 MONTHS

Samples of the seized Cannabis Indica.

Story by Dili Utomi

Tuesday 11th of August 2026. The Seme Area Command Parade Ground of the Nigeria Customs Service was all busy for one reason- the display of most of the seized illegal items of trade and the press briefing by the Command’s helmsman, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Ka’ila.

The Customs Area Controller had said in a manner reminiscent of Chinua Achebe’s analogy of the bird and the hunter that as those who engage in illegitimate trade are getting more creative in trying to package, hide and convey their illegal items, they, the Customs are also getting smarter in trying to catch them. He said this to buttress his point about smuggllers tricks of buying vehicles across borders, registering them with Nigerian numbers and trying to bring them in as vehicle already in use, this was during the questions and answers session of the briefing.

Earlier, the CAC had told the officers and journalists present at the briefing that the items on display were more than confiscated contraband, noting that they are evidence of the collaboration, professionalism and commitment of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service to protecting the nation. “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 said.

Comptroller ka’ila presenting his speech with some of the seizures behind him.

CAC Ka’ila informed the gathering that following credible intelligence, officers of the Seme Area Command intercepted a truck that was deceptively declared to be carrying food items. Acting on intelligence and sustained surveillance, officers subjected the consignment to thorough examination and uncovered 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilograms.

He affirmed the frightening nature of the seizure emphasising that “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”.

Officers of the COMAND on enforcement duty also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, smuggled through illegal routes. The seizures declared were intercepted over the past 2 months. The officers of the Command over the period also intercepted the following shipments:
373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa
90 packs of Tramaking 250mg
69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and
310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.
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)
The Duty Paid Value of all items on display is ₦365,163,709.00

Tha CAC with more seizures.

Comptroller Ka’ila emphatically declared that through these interceptions, the Seme Area Command has disrupted criminal supply chains and prevented these dangerous products from reaching Nigerian communities.

The most disturbing of these seizures were the explosive materials that were intercepted, the import of the seizure was brought to bear on those who were present at the briefing by the words of Comptroller Ka’ila. He said “Among the seizures displayed today is one that poses perhaps the greatest threat to national security.
Our officers intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor”.

“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”.

On revenue generation as indicated by the CAC, in 2025, the Seme Area Command generated a total revenue of ₦15,941,258,676.01. That achievement he said, reflects improved compliance, enhanced stakeholder engagement and strengthened operational efficiency. Yet as he noted, 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, a tremendous achievement by all standards.

Tha CAC in front of the heap of Cannabis Indica also flanked by the NAFDAC and NDLEA officials as well as officers of the Command.

Comptroller Ka’ila affirmed that the Customs remains 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 their area of responsibility.

The seized hard drugs components were handed over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) which was represented by the deputy area Commander, Deputy Controller of Narcotics, Adewale N. Adebisi who commented that the synergy between the NCS and the NDLEA can only grow stronger for the fight against the importation and use of hard drugs.

The tramadol and noodles components of the seizure were also handed over to the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) represented by the Seme Area head, Dr. Nura Audu who is pained that Nigerians keep bringing in toxic food items to be sold to fellow countrymen to be eaten. He decried the behaviour, but also warned Nigerians NOT to buy food items that should be properly packaged, but which are sold in measuring forms, this he noted is for the obvious reasons of good personal and public health.

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