Customs Collects over ₦847m in April, Frustrates Smugglers' Effort with several seizures

By Ajibola Adedoye
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command has announced the total sum of Eight Hundred and Forty-Seven Million, Fifty-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Nine Naira, Thirty Kobo (₦847,058,879.30k) as the total revenue generated for the month of April 2025 alone.
Comptroller Dr. Ben Oramalugo, the Customs Area Controller of the Command who made this known on Wednesday at Seme-Krake Border noted that this achievement reflects our sustained efforts at ensuring that all revenue leakages are blocked, and every legitimate kobo due to the Federal Government is collected without compromise.
He said “In line with the Federal Government’s agenda on economic diversification through non-oil exports, the Command facilitated the movement of Two Thousand and Twenty-Nine (2,029) trucks, equivalent to over Eighty-Eight metric tonnes (88,036.15) of made-in-Nigeria goods. These exports had a Free-On-Board (FOB) value of Sixteen Billion, Nine Hundred Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-One Naira and Ten Kobo (₦16,900,987,331.10k) only. While the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees stood at Eighty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira and Sixty-Six Kobo (₦84,504,936.66k) only.”

According to the CAC, ‘This underscores our role as a critical trade enabler and contributor to national economic growth through efficient border management and support to local manufacturers.”
In the area of anti-smuggling operations, the Command record success with a remarkable achievement recorded within the period under review, Dr. Oramalugo recalled that “On 28th March 2025, at about 2000hrs, operatives of the Command on stop and search duty intercepted a motorcyclist suspected of conveying un-customs goods along Owode Road. Upon interception, the rider abandoned a Ghana-Must-Go bag and escaped. Upon examination, the bag was found to contain various foreign coins, namely: Forty-Nine (49) pieces of Two-Dollar coins, One Thousand and Forty-Eight (1,048) pieces of One-Pound coins, One Hundred and Thirty (130) pieces of 25 Canadian cents, Two Hundred and Thirty-Six (236) pieces of Fifty Pence, Six Hundred and Forty-Five (645) pieces of Twenty Pence, Four Hundred and Twenty (420) pieces of Ten Pence, Three Hundred and Seventy (370) pieces of Five Pence.
“Similarly, on 1st April 2025, operatives intercepted a Mazda vehicle suspected of carrying smuggled items along the Badagry-Seme Expressway. After a thorough check, the vehicle was found to contain: Nine Hundred and Forty (940) pieces of One-Pound coins, Eighty (80) pieces of Two-Pound coins, Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight (338) pieces of Fifty Penny, Five Hundred and Forty (540) pieces of Twenty Penny and Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five (785) pieces of Five Penny
“The total value of these seized foreign coins is Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-One Naira (₦8,975,281.00k) only. These items are classified under Item 18 of Schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff (CET), which prohibits the importation of “Silver or Metal Alloy Coins not being legal tender in Nigeria” he submitted.

Speaking further, the Area Comptroller revealed that “on 9th May 2025, our operatives, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a red Toyota Avensis with registration number GGB 667 JL along the Badagry-Lagos expressway. The vehicle was found to be conveying Six (6) canisters of corrosive mercury suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED), concealed beneath Five (5) cartons of the Holy Qur’an. One suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure.
“Other notable seizures during the period include: Five Hundred and Fifty Three (553) parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifteen (1,415) bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), Seven Hundred and Fifty (750) kegs of PMS (30kg each), Thirty (30) cartons of Tobacco, Fifty (50) cartons of Ketchup Tomato, One (1) boat and engine, Fifty (50) bales of second-hand clothing, Five (5) Vehicles and also Unregistered pharmaceuticals, including Four Hundred and Twenty (420) bottles of CA-C100 Vitamin C and Haldol injection (5ml).
“The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seizures during the period under review is Six Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Six Naira (₦669,785,236.00k) only” he added.

Customs Collects over ₦847m in April, Frustrates Smugglers’ Effort with several seizures