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Seme, Lagos State (Nigeria): The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Command, on Thursday, intercepted five trailer loads of expired flour with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) worth ₦1.2 billion—smuggled from Egypt, averting a significant public health threat.
Comptroller Wale Adenuga, Controller of Seme Area Command of the NCS, disclosed this at a news conference in Seme.
According to the controller, the trucks, which contained 10,000 bags of flour from Egypt to Nigeria, had expired since March 2024.
He said intelligence on the flour was leaked to them through the office of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, with the assistance of the Nigeria Navy in Abuja.
“The health risks associated with consuming such expired products could have led to severe infections, food poisoning, and long-term health complications.
“Beyond health implications, such unwholesome goods undermine local industries and erode consumers’ trust,” he said.
Adenuga said that other items seized by the command included 1,104 parcels of cannabis sativa, intercepted via intelligence.
“The social and psychological toll of such substances on our youth cannot be overstated.
“Our operatives seized 120 packs of tramadol 120mg. Two suspects were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Seme command, for further investigation.
“Other seized items include 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each, 150 bales of second-hand clothing, 169 bottles of DSP Cough Syrup with codeine and five used vehicles,” he said.
He said the DPV for all seizures stood at ₦1,99 billion.
On revenue generation, Adenuga said the command generated ₦1.5 billion in September, compared to ₦ 531.4 million collected in August.
Adenuga said the outstanding performance reflected the effectiveness of the CGC’s reform agenda, built on compliance, transparency and data-driven monitoring of goods.
“The dedication of officers and men who continued to embody the CGC’s vision of a modern, efficient and accountable customs service contributed to our success.
“Upon assumption of duty, and in line with the CGC’s strategic vision anchored on the policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation, customs declared Trade Facilitation as the hallmark of our administration.
“We believe that when trade is facilitated, processes are streamlined, costs are reduced, and more revenue is generated.
“Guided by the CGC’s commitment to transparency and modernisation, the Seme area command intensified efforts to simplify procedures, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and ensure that legitimate traders enjoy the full benefits of customs modernisation,” he said.
Adenuga commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, especially the Nigerian Navy, for their support in the fight against smuggling on the Seme corridor.
“The Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry has demonstrated that we are partners in this fight against smuggling by repeatedly handing over foreign parboiled rice intercepted and seized on the waterways and its surrounding, we really appreciate them for that,” he said.