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Customs Report

SEREC Salutes Customs Vigilance, Warns Against Growing Criminal Pressure on Ports, Borders

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BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS
The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its sustained vigilance and intelligence-led interceptions of arms, ammunition, narcotics and other prohibited consignments, describing the seizures as a critical first line of defence in Nigeria’s national security architecture.
In a public policy commendation signed by its Head of Research, Fwdr Eugene Nweke, RFF, SEREC said the recent arms seizures should not be viewed merely as routine Customs enforcement, but as evidence that criminal networks are increasingly testing Nigeria’s ports, borders and legitimate trade corridors as possible channels for moving dangerous materials.
The organisation particularly commended Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and the management of the NCS for strengthening intelligence gathering, risk profiling, targeted interventions and inter-agency collaboration.
According to SEREC, every prohibited weapon intercepted at a port or border represents a potentially dangerous asset denied to criminal, terrorist or violent extremist networks.
It therefore urged the Federal Government to treat the recurring seizures as a national security wake-up call, stressing the need for stronger intelligence fusion, border surveillance, technology deployment and coordinated action among Customs and other security and regulatory agencies.
SEREC warned that sophisticated criminal networks no longer depend solely on conventional smuggling methods, but increasingly exploit complex supply chains, false documentation, concealment techniques, front companies and legitimate commercial channels to move illicit goods.
It consequently called for greater investment in Customs intelligence and risk-management systems, non-intrusive inspection technologies, advance cargo information, data analytics, maritime and land-border surveillance, specialised training and improved operational support for officers.
The research centre also advocated the integration of freight forwarders, Customs brokers, bonded terminal operators, shipping companies and other legitimate supply-chain participants into the national security framework.
It noted that these stakeholders possess valuable information about consignors, consignees, cargo documentation, routing and cargo movements, and could provide an additional layer of vigilance if properly trained and sensitised.
SEREC, however, urged firm sanctions against industry operators who knowingly facilitate illicit trade, while ensuring that legitimate businesses that are unwittingly exploited by criminal networks are protected.
The organisation further stressed that enhanced security must not become an excuse for indiscriminate cargo intervention or delays for compliant traders.
Rather, it advocated a risk-based system in which compliant and low-risk cargo enjoys seamless clearance, while credible intelligence triggers targeted intervention against high-risk consignments.
With Nigeria gradually moving towards the 2027 electioneering period, SEREC urged the Federal Government to intensify preventive security measures, warning that heightened political activity could create additional vulnerabilities for the movement of illicit arms, narcotics, criminal finances and other dangerous materials.
It maintained that Nigeria’s ports and borders must remain gateways for legitimate commerce and must not be allowed to become logistics or supply channels for terrorism, banditry, organised crime or election-related violence.
SEREC concluded that the recurring interceptions by Customs represent both a commendable demonstration of operational vigilance and a warning that should not be ignored.
“The protection of the nation’s ports and frontiers is no longer solely a Customs responsibility. It is a collective national-security responsibility,” the organisation stated, urging stronger government backing for the NCS and enhanced cooperation across the nation’s security and trade architecture.
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