Felix KumuyiCompt. Kaila on the Move As Seme Customs Bursts Drug Smuggling Network, Boosts Revenue with N9.8bn Collection
By Felix Kumuyi
Comptroller AS Kaila, CAC, Seme Command, NCS
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command has in recent times continued to intensify its crackdown on smuggling activities along the nation’s busiest border trade corridor with emphatic wins against economic saboteurs, effectively plugging leakages to improve revenue collection, as well as delivering robust inroads at ensuring facilitating of legitimate trade to stay atop as a model status command in the West African sub-region.
These mandates win have been made possible with consistency since the advent of Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila in charge as Customs Area Controller of the border command about three months ago.
With recent performance record showcasing major seizures of cannabis, unregistered pharmaceutical products and other prohibited goods, while generating nearly ₦10 billion in revenue in less than three months of his leadership, shows that the command is ready to position itself for greater operational efficiency.
Comptroller Kaila addressing the Media at the Press Briefing
Comptroller Abdulahi Shuaibu Kaila made the above achievement disclosure on Monday May 25th, 2026, during his major maiden media briefing at the Command headquarters, where he highlighted operational achievements recorded since assuming office in March 2026.
According to him, the Command generated ₦9.79 billion within the review period, representing an increase of over ₦7.6 billion when compared to the ₦2.18 billion collected during the corresponding period in 2025.
He attributed the impressive performance to strengthened compliance mechanisms, enhanced stakeholder cooperation, anti-revenue leakage measures and the strategic deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
Kaila explained that the Command also intensified engagement with freight forwarders, importers, exporters, transport unions and other stakeholders operating along the Seme corridor to simplify trade procedures and improve compliance.
On anti-smuggling operations, the command under the watchful eyes of Comptroller Shuaibu Kaila has continued to pose grave danger to unscrupulous smugglers and duty evaders, and economic saboteurs by rising to the occasion to nip in the bud their illicit activities
During the Handing over of the seized Cannabis
Responding to the command’s efforts so far within the last three months of assumption of office, the CAC disclosed that officers intercepted 800 parcels of suspected cannabis sativa during intelligence-led patrols conducted along the Seme-Badagry corridor and adjoining routes.
He further revealed that the Command seized large quantities of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs lacking approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The Seized Cannabis and Rice
Other intercepted items included 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of foreign vegetable oil, 103 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit, 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti and 250 bales of used clothing.
The CAC warned smugglers and economic saboteurs to desist from illegal activities, stressing that the Command has strengthened intelligence gathering, surveillance and inter-agency collaboration to combat trans-border crimes.
Unregistered Medicament Seizures
Receiving the seized narcotics on behalf of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Deputy Superintendent and Deputy Area Commander, Suleiman Ibrahim, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its collaboration and intelligence-sharing efforts in curbing drug trafficking within the border corridor.
Similarly, Venga Ventim Edward of NAFDAC appreciated the Seme Customs Command, clarifying that the seized medications were intercepted because they lacked regulatory approval and certification required for entry into the Nigerian market.
Kaila reaffirmed the commitment of the Command to balancing revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security in line with the reform agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
admin
