Seme Customs Intercepts 5 Trucks Of Smuggled Rice, Used Clothing, Others _…Oramalugo hands over 898 parcels of cannabis to NDLEA_. By Joy Enamuna
Seme Customs Intercepts 5 Trucks Of Smuggled Rice, Used Clothing, Others
_…Oramalugo hands over 898 parcels of cannabis to NDLEA_
As part of its anti-smuggling operations, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) operatives at the Seme Border Command recently intercepted 5 trucks smuggled items containing 2800 bags of 50kg rice and used clothing.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Border Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo PhD, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday at the Seme Border.
His words: “For the past two weeks, between the 1st July and 19th July 2025, the operatives of the Command acting on credible intelligence and coordinated enforcement strategies, successfully intercepted and seized a total of 5 trucks laden with smuggled goods along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
“The trucks were found to contain a total of 2,800 foreign parboiled rice 50Kg each, and 250 bales of used clothing. The Duty Paid Value of the seized rice and the means of conveyance (trucks) is N919,500,626.00.”
Oramalugo observed disclosed other notable seizures during the period include; 898 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), 1,319 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 40 bags of Sugar (50kg each), 64 bags of flour (50kg each), 50 cartons of Ketchup Tomato, 1 boat and engine, 20 bales of second-hand clothing, 4 bales of used shoes.
According to him, the total value of all seizures during the period under review N1,268,794,474.00k only, even as he attributed the successful operation to the vigilance, resilience, and doggedness of the officers and men of the Seme Area Command, as well as the collaborative support from other security agencies, particularly the Nigerian military.
Speaking on the rice seizures, he stressed that the Federal Government’s ban on the importation of rice through land borders is to protect domestic rice farmers and millers thereby reducing dependency on imported rice.
“Nigeria is the highest producer of rice in Africa, with an annual output exceeding 8 million metric tonnes, surpassing Egypt and Tanzania. However, our rice mills continue to face challenges due to insufficient patronage, which hampers their ability to operate at full capacity,” he remarked.
Giving an update on non-oil exports, he said the Command facilitated the movement of 1,837 trucks, equivalent to over 116,723.26MT of made-in-Nigeria goods.
“These exports had a Free On Board (FOB) value of N22,368,388,976.10k only. While the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees stood at N111,841,944.87K) only,” the Seme Customs boss said.
Meanwhile, he noted that between May and July 2025 Seme Area Command, through commitment and professionalism, has generated a total revenue of N1,593,676,123.26.
After receiving the seized Cannabis Sativa, the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Area Command, who was represented by Idris Muhammed, Oramalugo reaffirmed the Service’s unwavering commitment to securing the nation.
The NDLEA Commander pledged continued collaboration with the Customs and assured of further investigation and prosecution of suspects.
