- N365m Smuggling Haul: Customs Seizes Expired Noodles, Explosives, Drugs at Seme
- Seizes Explosives, 1,268 Bags of Foreign Rice
- 1,306 Sacks of Decomposing Noodle Seized
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Seme Area Command has intercepted consignments of expired and decomposing noodles, explosive materials, illicit drugs and other prohibited goods with a combined Duty Paid Value of N365.16 million.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the seizures were made during a series of anti-smuggling operations along the Nigeria-Benin border, according to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila.
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Kaila disclosed this on Wednesday while displaying the seized items during a press briefing at the Seme Border.
Among the major seizures were 1,306 sacks of expired noodles, each weighing 50kg, which were concealed in a truck falsely declared as carrying food items.
The Customs boss said the noodles had deteriorated and were already decomposing when they were intercepted.
He added that intelligence gathered by the command indicated that the smugglers allegedly planned to repackage and relabel the products for sale to 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,” Kaila said.
The command also intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally transported through the border corridor.
Kaila warned that the explosives could have been diverted to criminal activities, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
He said the explosives and one suspect had been handed over to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for safe custody and further investigation.
The command further seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, after the consignments were smuggled into the country through illegal routes.
According to Kaila, the illegal rice trade deprives the government of legitimate revenue while undermining efforts to promote domestic agricultural production.
He said the smuggling of foreign rice also threatens the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers and discourages investment in local production.
In the area of illicit drugs and harmful substances, Customs officers intercepted 373 parcels of Cannabis sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.
Kaila said the seizures had helped disrupt illicit supply chains and prevented harmful substances from reaching communities.
“These are not ordinary commodities. They are dangerous products capable of destroying lives, fuelling criminality, encouraging substance abuse and undermining the future of our young people,” he said.
Other items seized by the command included a used speedboat, a used water bike, a 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2016 Toyota RAV4 and a 2010 Nissan Versa.
The Customs Area Controller said the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies to curb smuggling and prevent prohibited goods from entering Nigeria through the border corridor.
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