Seme Customs foils suspected IED plot, seizes mercury-laden vehicle
Omeiza Bilal
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has recorded significant operational successes in anti-smuggling enforcement, revenue generation, and trade facilitation between March and May 2025.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, highlighted a series of high profile seizures, including suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components, large volumes of foreign coins, parcels of Cannabis Sativa, among other seizures.
According to him, officers and men of the command intercepted a red Toyota Avensis on 9 May 2025, 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.”
In addition to the IED-related interception, the command also seized foreign coins of British, Canadian, and American origin worth N8,975,281, which contravenes the Common External Tarrif (CET) law, 553 parcels of cannabis sativa, 1,415 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 750kegs of PMS and unregistered pharmaceuticals.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for all the seizures amounted to ₦669,785,236.
Comptroller Oramalugo emphasised the Command’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration.
“In line with our commitment to inter-agency collaboration, we shall be handing over the seized Cannabis Sativa and Cannasive of Corrosive Mercury suspected to be IEDs and unregistered pharmaceuticals to the relevant agencies for discreet investigative action and possible prosecution. This also highlights our readiness to work with sister agencies in safeguarding national security”, Oramalugo stated.
On revenue generation, the CAC reported that the Command collected ₦847,058,879.30 in April 2025, reflecting the command’s commitment to blocking revenue leakages and collecting legitimate revenue due to the Federal Government.
In it’s trade facilitation role, the command facilitated the movement of 2,029 trucks of made-in-Nigeria goods, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of ₦16,900,987,331.
Comptroller Oramalugo also used the occasion to issue a warning against online fraudsters impersonating Customs officers to sell seized items via social media platforms. He advised the public to only follow verified social media handles.
