The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme Area Command has recorded remarkable achievements in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations, raking in N743,728,652.16 in one month. The Command also intercepted large consignments of contraband, including 444 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, which were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, March 13, 2025, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Dr. Ben Oramalugo, attributed these successes to enhanced intelligence sharing, inter-agency collaboration, and operational restructuring aimed at improving efficiency and vigilance.
Within one month of Dr. Oramalugo’s assumption of office on February 11, 2025, the Command recorded significant trade activities. It processed the export of 28,395.293 metric tons of goods, equivalent to 806 trucks, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N7.85 billion ($4.99 million USD). The Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees collected amounted to N39.26 million.
In its intensified crackdown on smuggling, the Command seized several contraband items, including:
444 parcels of Cannabis Sativa
181 packs of Tramadol
600 bottles (100ml each) of Codeine syrup
240 kegs (30 liters each) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
1,809 bags (50kg each) of foreign parboiled rice
17 sacks of used shoes
56 bales of used clothes
203 pieces of used tires
Five vehicles used for smuggling
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items stood at N267,054,172.
Following due process, Comptroller Oramalugo, with the approval of the Controller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, officially handed over the seized Cannabis Sativa to Commander Owen, the Commandant of NDLEA Seme Special Command.
Dr. Oramalugo reaffirmed his commitment to suppressing smuggling within the Seme border corridor, warning smugglers and their collaborators that the NCS will not tolerate economic sabotage.
“Smuggling is a crime that undermines our economy. I urge individuals involved to embrace legitimate trade and contribute to national growth,” he stated.
Going forward, the Seme Area Command is set to:
Enhance cooperation with security agencies, traditional rulers, and community leaders
Deploy advanced intelligence strategies to disrupt smuggling networks
Intensify surveillance and patrol activities to eliminate illicit trade
Dr. Oramalugo expressed gratitude to the CGC, NCS management team, officers of the command, inter-agency partners, and the media for their support in ensuring operational success.
