Customs Seizes Narcotics, Rice, Petroleum Products in Joint Nigeria-Benin Border Operation
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded six major seizure cases involving narcotics, pharmaceuticals, rice, petroleum products and used clothing during a joint border security operation with the Benin Customs Administration aimed at combating smuggling and strengthening intelligence-led enforcement.
The operation, code-named Operation GEOCONTROL, was conducted between 29 June and 8 July 2026 along the Benin-Nigeria border corridor under the World Customs Organisation (WCO)-Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Joint Project.
The NCS also disclosed that four suspects were detained during the operation, while the Benin Customs Administration recorded 31 seizures across the targeted areas.
The operation covered 10 targeted areas and brought together customs authorities from both countries to strengthen border surveillance, identify smuggling routes and improve intelligence sharing through the application of geospatial intelligence technology.
The NCS made the disclosure in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, who said the operation demonstrated the importance of international cooperation and technology-driven enforcement in tackling transnational smuggling.
According to the Service, Operation GEOCONTROL marked the first operational deployment of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) capabilities developed through the GEOINT Master Trainer Programme for West Africa, which was completed in February 2026.
The programme was designed to equip customs personnel with the technical expertise required to apply geospatial intelligence to border management, surveillance and the identification of high-risk locations.
The NCS explained that the operation was structured to demonstrate how geospatial intelligence could be deployed in practical enforcement activities, particularly in identifying smuggling hotspots, mapping vulnerable routes and improving coordination between customs administrations operating along shared borders.
The operation combined geospatial analysis, hotspot mapping, aerial surveillance, intelligence exchange and coordinated field deployment to strengthen operational decision-making and improve the effectiveness of enforcement activities along the border corridor.
The Service said the use of multiple risk maps and hotspot analyses enabled enforcement personnel to identify vulnerable locations and direct operational resources towards areas considered more susceptible to illicit activities.
It added that the exchange of operational information between the Nigerian and Beninese customs authorities enhanced coordination and supported intelligence-driven field operations.
Beyond the seizures and detention of suspects, the NCS said the exercise provided an opportunity to test the practical application of skills acquired through the GEOINT Master Trainer Programme against real-world enforcement challenges.
The Service noted that the use of geospatial intelligence could improve the ability of customs authorities to analyse movement patterns, identify potential smuggling routes and deploy personnel more strategically.
It added that the approach could also help enforcement agencies respond more effectively to the activities of smugglers who exploit difficult terrain and vulnerable sections of international borders to move prohibited or improperly declared goods.
The NCS said the results reinforced the importance of coordinated border management in addressing illicit trade and other activities capable of undermining national security, legitimate commerce and government revenue.
It stressed that smuggling remained a cross-border challenge requiring sustained cooperation among neighbouring countries, particularly where criminal networks could exploit gaps in surveillance and differences in enforcement capacity.
The collaboration between the WCO, JICA, the NCS and the Benin Customs Administration, according to the Service, demonstrated how shared intelligence, technological tools and coordinated operational planning could improve enforcement outcomes across common borders.
The post-operation report, dated 2 August 2026, documented the results achieved during the exercise and the operational lessons arising from the joint deployment.
The Service said the lessons would be important in strengthening future enforcement operations and improving the integration of technology into border security activities.
The WCO-JICA initiative also highlighted the role of international partnerships in building the capacity of customs administrations to respond to evolving smuggling methods and other forms of cross-border illicit trade.
Through such partnerships, customs authorities can develop specialised skills, exchange operational knowledge and adopt modern tools to improve surveillance and enforcement.
The NCS reiterated its commitment to deepening cooperation with international partners and neighbouring customs administrations to strengthen border security, improve intelligence sharing and facilitate legitimate trade.
It said it would continue to leverage relevant technological capabilities, professional expertise and collaborative enforcement frameworks to combat smuggling, protect national interests and contribute to a safer and more efficient trading environment.
The Service added that technology-driven border management and sustained international cooperation would remain important components of its efforts to prevent illicit trade while supporting lawful commercial activities across Nigeria’s borders.
