Customs Records Major Seizures in Joint Border Security Operation with Benin


Customs Records Major Seizures in Joint Border Security Operation with Benin

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded six significant seizure cases involving narcotics, pharmaceuticals, rice, petroleum products and used clothing during a joint border security operation conducted along the Benin–Nigeria border corridor.

The operation, code-named Operation GEOCONTROL, was conducted from June 29 to July 8, 2026, under the World Customs Organisation (WCO)–Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Joint Project, with the participation of the Customs administrations of Nigeria and Benin.

The Service also disclosed that four suspects were detained during the operation, which targeted smuggling networks and other illicit activities threatening national security, legitimate trade and government revenue.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, the Benin Customs Administration recorded 31 seizures across the targeted areas, while the Nigerian operation yielded six significant seizure cases.

The joint exercise covered 10 targeted areas and was designed to strengthen intelligence-led enforcement, improve information sharing and enhance coordinated border surveillance between the two neighbouring countries.

Maiwada explained that 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.

He said the initiative was designed to demonstrate how geospatial intelligence could be applied to identify smuggling hotspots, map high-risk routes and support the strategic deployment of Customs personnel and operational resources.

The operation combined geospatial analysis, hotspot mapping, aerial surveillance, intelligence exchange and coordinated field activities to improve enforcement decisions and strengthen border management.

Beyond the seizures, the exercise demonstrated the practical value of GEOINT in identifying vulnerable border locations, analysing high-risk movement patterns and directing enforcement resources towards areas with a higher likelihood of illicit activities.

The use of multiple risk maps and hotspot analyses supported intelligence-driven field operations, while the exchange of operational information enhanced coordination between the Nigerian and Beninese Customs administrations.

The exercise also provided an opportunity for personnel to apply skills acquired through the GEOINT Master Trainer Programme to real-world border security challenges.

The NCS said the operation underscored the importance of international cooperation, technological innovation and capacity development in tackling transnational smuggling and other forms of illicit cross-border trade.

It added that the collaboration among the WCO, JICA and the two Customs administrations demonstrated how shared intelligence, geospatial technology and coordinated operational planning could improve enforcement outcomes along common borders.

The post-operation report, dated August 2, 2026, documented the results achieved and lessons learned from the joint deployment.

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with international organisations and neighbouring Customs administrations to improve border security, enhance intelligence sharing and facilitate legitimate trade.

It further pledged to sustain the use of relevant technological capabilities, professional expertise and collaborative enforcement frameworks to combat smuggling, protect national interests and promote a safer and more efficient trading environment.

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