Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted 22 packages of suspected cocaine valued at N1 billion along the Badagry–Seme border corridor.
The seizure was carried out by officers of the Seme Area Command during a midnight operation on February 10, 2026, at about 3:00 a.m., according to an official statement.
Customs said the illicit substance was concealed inside a Toyota Highlander attempting to cross the border through the busy smuggling route.
Investigators discovered the 22 packages hidden in a specially constructed compartment beneath the vehicle’s axle, designed to evade routine inspection.
One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure and taken into custody for further questioning.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General Timi Bomodi, described the operation as evidence of strengthened border enforcement.
He stated that the agency remained committed to preventing the trafficking of prohibited items that threaten public health and national security.
Customs cited Section 55(1)(C) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, affirming its mandate to enforce prohibitions tied to national safety.
Officials warned that drug trafficking fuels organised crime and insecurity, underscoring the need for coordinated inter-agency action.
The seized narcotics and the suspect were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for forensic analysis and further investigation.
NDLEA representatives praised the collaboration, describing it as critical in curbing cross-border drug smuggling networks.
