The Seme Customs Command has intercepted illicit substances worth millions of naira, among other prohibited products, as part of efforts to curb smuggling along the Nigeria-Benin border corridor. According to Channels Television, the seizures were announced as the command stepped up its anti-smuggling drive on one of the country's busiest land borders. The disclosure pointed to a sustained crackdown on contraband moving through the porous frontier between the two neighbouring states.
The figures were presented at the maiden briefing of the new customs area controller in charge of the Seme Command, Abdullahi Kaila, since he assumed office in March. He opened the briefing by highlighting the successes recorded by the command in its anti-smuggling operations, which he said were driven largely by intelligence-led methods. By framing the results around targeted intelligence, the controller sought to underline a more strategic approach to policing the corridor.
Among the most significant seizures, the command intercepted 800 parcels of suspected cannabis sativa, a narcotic substance prohibited under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. Officials cited Section 245, Subsection 1 of the relevant law in classifying the consignment as illegal. The scale of the cannabis haul underscored the persistent challenge of narcotics trafficking along the routes that link Nigeria to its western neighbour.
Beyond the narcotics, the command also recorded seizures of fake medicament imports, food items and other prohibited goods intercepted along the Seme-Badagri corridor and adjoining routes. The interception of counterfeit medicines in particular pointed to the public health risks posed by smuggling, while the food seizures reflected the range of contraband that traders attempt to move across the border. Together, the hauls illustrated the breadth of the command's enforcement activity in the period under review.
On the revenue side, Abdullahi Kaila revealed that the command generated more than 9 billion naira within the period under review, covering his two-month tenure in the operational saddle. The earnings, drawn alongside the enforcement operations, were presented as evidence that tighter controls could go hand in hand with improved collections. The controller used the figure to demonstrate that the command was delivering on both its security and revenue mandates.
The Seme-Badagri corridor remains one of the most sensitive trade and smuggling routes in Nigeria, given its position along the Nigeria-Benin border and its links to adjoining communities. By combining seizures of narcotics, fake drugs and food items with significant revenue generation, the command sought to project an image of renewed effectiveness under its new leadership. The briefing signalled that the authorities intend to maintain pressure on smugglers operating across the frontier in the months ahead.