Customs intercepts N8.975m foreign coins, explosives at Lagos border

The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said it intercepted N8.975 million worth of foreign coins from suspected currency traffickers and six canisters of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Badagry area of Lagos. It stated that the traffickers, on sighting a customs patrol team, fled and abandoned the bags containing the items. […]

The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said it intercepted N8.975 million worth of foreign coins from suspected currency traffickers and six canisters of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Badagry area of Lagos.

It stated that the traffickers, on sighting a customs patrol team, fled and abandoned the bags containing the items.

This is even as the authority in charge of the command says it processed N16.9 billion worth of export and raked in N847.01 million into government purse on April 20, 2025.

Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Dr Ben Oramalugo, who made this disclosure at a press conference stated that the seized coins 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.”

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He said the anti-smuggling operatives of the command on March 28, 2025 at about 8pm intercepted a motorcyclist suspected of conveying un-customs goods along Owode Road. 

He said upon interception, the rider abandoned a Ghana-Must-Go bag and escaped and that upon examination, the bag was found to contain various foreign coins, namely: 49 pieces of Two-Dollar coins, 1,048 pieces of One-Pound coins, 130 pieces of 25 Canadian cents, 236 pieces of 50 pence, 645 pieces of 20 Pence, 420 pieces of Ten Pence, and 370 pieces of Five Pence.

Speaking further, Oramalugo revealed that in line with the federal government’s agenda on economic diversification through non-oil exports, the command facilitated the movement of 2,029 trucks, equivalent to over 88,036.15 tonnes of made-in-Nigeria goods. 

He said the exports consignments had a Free On Board (FOB) value of N16.9 billion only, adding that the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees also stood at N84.505 million only.

“I am pleased to announce that the Seme Area Command, through commitment and professionalism, generated Total revenue of N847.1 million for the month of April 2025 alone. 

 

 “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.

“Similarly, on April 1, 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: 940 pieces of One-Pound coins, 80 pieces of Two-Pound coins, 338 pieces of 50 Penny, 540 pieces of 20 Penny and 785 pieces of Five Penny.

“In a related development, on May 9, 2025, our operatives, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a red Toyota Avensis with registration number GGB 667 JL along the Badagry-Lagos expressway,” he said.

The vehicle was found to be conveying six canisters of corrosive mercury suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED), concealed beneath five cartons of the Holy Qur’an. One suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure.

“Other notable seizures during the period include: 553 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), 1,415 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 750 kegs of PMS (30kg each), 30 cartons of Tobacco, 50 cartons of Ketchup Tomato, one boat and engine, 50 bales of second-hand clothing, five vehicles and also unregistered pharmaceuticals, including 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 ₦669.8 million only,” he added.