The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted five trucks loaded with 2,800 bags of 50kg foreign rice and 250 bales of second-hand clothing between July 1 and 19, 2025.
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Dr Benedict Oramalugo, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters. He said the seizures were made possible through credible intelligence along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
According to him, a total of 4,119 bags of rice and 898 parcels of cannabis sativa were seized during the same period, along with 40 bags of sugar, 64 bags of flour, and 50 cartons of tomato ketchup.
Other recovered items included one boat with an engine, 20 bales of second-hand clothes, and four bales of used shoes.
Dr Oramalugo stated that the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for all the intercepted items amounted to ₦1,268,794,474, noting that the successful operation was supported by the Nigerian military and other security agencies.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s ban on rice importation via land borders, emphasizing its importance in boosting local rice production.
“Nigeria is the highest producer of rice in Africa, with an annual output exceeding 8 million metric tonnes. Yet, many rice mills operate below capacity due to low patronage,” he noted.
In terms of legal trade facilitation, the command supervised the export of 1,837 trucks of made-in-Nigeria goods totaling 116,723.26MT, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of ₦22.36 billion and NESS fees of ₦111.84 million.
Between May and July 2025, the Seme Command also generated ₦1.59 billion in revenue.
The CAC confirmed that the seized cannabis parcels had been handed over to the NDLEA, represented by Idris Muhammed.
He issued a strong warning to smugglers, asserting that the Command would not tolerate any activity that threatens Nigeria’s economic progress.
