By Steve Agbota
Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it intercepted smuggled hard drugs, petroleum, rice and other contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N267.054 million.
The smuggled items include 444 parcels of cannabis sativa (marijuana), 181 packs of Tramadol, 600 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each), and 240 kegs of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).
Customs Area Controller of Seme Area Command, Dr Ben Oramalugo, stated this during his maiden press conference while handing over the hard drugs to the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Seme-Krake border, at the weekend, said other items seized are 1,809 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 17 sacks of used shoes, 56 bales of used clothes and 203 pieces of used tyres.
“These seizures, which contravene relevant sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (NCSA 23), reaffirm our commitment to suppressing smuggling within the Seme border corridor.
“Furthermore, with the approval of the CGC, the seized Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) as you witness has been handed over to the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Command, in line with existing inter-agency collaboration,” he added.
However, he said as part of its core mandate of revenue generation, the Seme Area Command has generated a total revenue of ₦743.728 million only for the month of February 2025.
According to him, this remarkable achievement underscores the Command’s commitment to blocking revenue leakages and ensuring maximum collection for national development.
He hinted the Command facilitated a total of over 28,395.293 metric tonnes equivalent to 806 trucks of export produce for the month of February 2025, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N 7.852 billion, which is equivalent to
$4,995 million.
He noted that the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) paid N39.260 million, saying the total surcharge during the month of February was N2.433 million.
He added that the Command would leverage the trade facilitation initiatives to foster a more efficient, transparent and predictable trade environment, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s growth and development.
“Let me use this opportunity to warn smugglers and their collaborators that their illegal activities will not be tolerated. Smuggling is an act of economic sabotage, and the Seme Area Command is fully prepared to track down, arrest, and prosecute offenders.
I strongly advise all individuals involved in smuggling to embrace legitimate trade and contribute to national economic growth, rather than engaging in criminal activities that undermine our country’s economy.
“The proactive measures we have implemented in fostering collaboration, enhancing operational efficiency, boosting revenue generation, and intensifying anti-smuggling efforts are already yielding tangible results. We remain committed to sustaining these efforts to ensure even greater service delivery in the months ahead,” he emphasized.