Customs Seize Expired Noodles, Rice, Medicines and Explosives at Seme Border. A routine smuggling operation at the Seme border has uncovered a disturbing mix of expired food, illicit drugs and explosive materials — including 3,300 cartridges.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, says it intercepted the consignments as part of intensified efforts to stop prohibited goods from entering Nigeria.
But one seizure stood out for its potential impact on unsuspecting consumers: 1,306 sacks of expired noodles weighing 50kg each.
The noodles were allegedly headed for the market
Customs Area Controller Abdullahi Kaila said officers acted on intelligence to intercept a truck whose contents had been declared as noodles.
What they found was far more troubling.
The products had reportedly passed their expiry dates, with some already showing signs of deterioration and decomposition.
Customs said intelligence suggested the goods were destined to be repackaged, relabelled and sold to consumers.
That raised an immediate public-health concern.
According to Kaila, allowing the shipment through could have exposed consumers to illnesses associated with contaminated or badly deteriorated food.
The seizure, he said, was therefore about more than stopping smuggling. It was also about preventing potentially dangerous products from reaching Nigerian households.
Foreign rice worth millions also seized
The Seme command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, with each bag weighing 50kg.
Customs said the rice had been moved through illegal routes and was intercepted at various points within the command’s jurisdiction.
The agency argued that such smuggling has a wider economic impact.
It deprives the government of revenue, undermines policies supporting local rice production and creates additional pressure on Nigerian farmers competing with illegally imported products.
Then came the drugs and cigarettes
The list of seizures did not end with food.
Customs reported recovering:
- 373 parcels of cannabis sativa
- 90 packs of tramaking 250mg
- 69 packs of royal tapentadol 250mg
- 310,000 sticks of cigarettes
Kaila said the illicit drugs posed serious public-safety concerns and could contribute to substance abuse and criminal activity.
The cigarettes, meanwhile, were allegedly brought in outside the approved regulatory and duty-payment framework.
Customs said stopping such shipments helps prevent unregulated products from reaching consumers while protecting government revenue.
The most worrying discovery: explosives
Then investigators came across the seizure Customs considered particularly sensitive.
A total of 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials were intercepted along the border corridor.
Kaila warned that explosives falling into the hands of criminal groups could have severe consequences, potentially facilitating attacks and other violent crimes.
The materials have since been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.
The development underscores why intelligence-sharing between Customs and other security agencies remains critical along Nigeria’s borders.
Cars, boats and a water bike also seized
The anti-smuggling operation also produced several vehicles and watercraft.
Customs listed:
- One used speed boat
- One used water bike
- One 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser
- One 2016 Toyota RAV4
- One 2010 Nissan Versa
The command said the combined Duty Paid Value of the displayed seizures was N365,163,709.
Kaila also issued a warning to smugglers operating around the Seme corridor, saying Customs would continue tightening enforcement against activities that undermine the economy.
Seme’s revenue numbers tell another story
While Customs was announcing the seizures, the command also highlighted a major jump in revenue collection.
Between January and July, the Seme Area Command said it generated N19.84 billion.
That figure is significant because it already surpasses the command’s entire 2025 revenue collection of N15.94 billion.
Customs said the result demonstrates that aggressive enforcement can operate alongside legitimate trade facilitation.
The command said compliant businesses would continue to receive support while enforcement officers focus on illegal imports and other forms of smuggling.
What happens next?
The seized drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products are expected to be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and appropriate action.
The explosives have already been transferred to the police explosives unit.
For Customs, the operation sends a broader message: the Seme border is becoming a tougher route for prohibited goods, even as authorities try to keep legitimate trade moving.