Cannabis Chaos And Rice Racket Crushed! Customs Make Landmark Interception At Seme Border

Massive Smuggling Crackdown at Seme: Customs Intercepts Cannabis, Smuggled Rice Worth Over N1.2 Billion – ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Border Command, has once again struck a major blow against trans-border criminal networks with the interception of 898 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, commonly referred to as Indian hemp, from traffickers operating along the Nigeria-Benin Republic corridor.

ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Dr. Benedict Oramalugo, disclosed during a press briefing in Lagos that the command also seized 2,800 bags of 50kg smuggled parboiled rice conveyed in five trucks, alongside 250 bales of second-hand clothing, all with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦919.5 million, recorded between July 1 and 19, 2025.

In total, the operation netted 4,119 bags of rice after additional seizures were made during follow-up enforcement actions.

The seized parcels of Cannabis Sativa were officially handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Command, and received by Idris Muhammed, representing the Area Commandant of the agency.

Dr. Oramalugo credited the successful operation to actionable intelligence and enhanced surveillance along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor. ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, the Seme Command also recorded significant seizures between June 14 and 30, 2025, including 40 bags of sugar, 64 bags of flour, 50 cartons of tomato ketchup, one engine-powered boat, 20 bales of used clothes, and four bales of second-hand shoes, all contributing to a staggering DPV of N1,268,794,474.

He emphasized the role of inter-agency collaboration, particularly the support from the Nigerian military and other sister agencies, in achieving these results.

The CAC further reiterated the Federal Government’s ban on rice importation through land borders, underscoring the importance of patronizing local rice producers.

He stated: “Nigeria is now the leading rice producer in Africa with over 8 million metric tonnes annually, ahead of Egypt and Tanzania. Yet, our rice mills suffer due to lack of patronage, which this ban aims to correct.”

In a positive stride for legal trade, ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, the command facilitated the export of 1,837 trucks, amounting to over 116,723.26 metric tonnes of made-in-Nigeria goods, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of ₦22.37 billion, and generated a National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fee of over ₦111.8 million.

Between May and July 2025 alone, the Command generated a whopping ₦1.59 billion in revenue.

Despite these gains, Dr. Oramalugo expressed concern that some individuals still persist in smuggling, which he described as detrimental to national economic development.

He issued a stern warning that Seme Command will not tolerate illegal trade, promising relentless enforcement to protect Nigeria’s borders.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”