By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded significant operational successes in a joint border security operation with the Benin Customs Administration, resulting in six major seizure cases involving narcotics, pharmaceuticals, rice, petroleum products and used clothing, as well as the detention of four suspects.
The operation, conducted under the World Customs Organisation (WCO)–Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Joint Project, was part of efforts to strengthen border security, combat smuggling and improve intelligence-led enforcement along the Benin–Nigeria border corridor.
The initiative, known as Operation GEOCONTROL, was implemented from June 29 to July 8, 2026, with the participation of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Directorate General of Customs of Benin under the coordination of the WCO and with support from JICA.
According to a press release issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, the operation recorded significant outcomes through the application of geospatial intelligence,
coordinated field deployment and enhanced information sharing between the two neighbouring countries.
The consolidated results of the operation covered 10 targeted areas, with the Benin Customs Administration recording 31 seizures, while the Nigeria Customs Service registered six significant seizure cases.
Four suspects were also detained during the operation, underscoring the importance of cross-border collaboration in tackling illicit trade and other activities that threaten national security, lawful commerce and government revenue.
A major feature of Operation GEOCONTROL was 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 skills and technical expertise required to use geospatial intelligence in identifying smuggling hotspots, mapping high-risk routes and improving the deployment of enforcement resources.
Through the operation, the Nigeria Customs Service and its Beninese counterpart applied these capabilities to real-world border security challenges, demonstrating how technology-driven intelligence gathering can improve the effectiveness of Customs operations.
The exercise combined geospatial analysis, hotspot mapping, aerial surveillance, intelligence exchange and coordinated field activities to strengthen operational decision-making along the shared border corridor.
The deployment enabled the participating Customs administrations to identify vulnerable border locations, analyse high-risk movement patterns and direct operational resources towards areas considered more susceptible to smuggling.
The approach also helped improve the coordination of field activities by providing officers with intelligence to guide enforcement decisions rather than relying solely on conventional patrol and inspection methods.
Benin Customs records 31 seizures
The consolidated results of the operation showed that the Benin Customs Administration recorded 31 seizures across the 10 targeted areas, while the Nigeria Customs Service documented six significant seizure cases.
The seizures recorded by the Nigerian side involved narcotics, pharmaceutical products, rice, petroleum products and used clothing.
The operation also resulted in the detention of four suspects, although the press release did not provide further details about their identities, the specific locations of the seizures or the quantities and estimated values of the confiscated goods.
The NCS said the results demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led enforcement and cooperation between neighbouring countries in addressing the movement of illicit goods across common borders.
Smuggling and other forms of illicit cross-border trade can undermine legitimate businesses, weaken regulatory controls and deprive governments of revenue. Such activities can also create security and public health risks,
particularly where narcotics and improperly regulated pharmaceutical products are involved.
By combining intelligence gathering with coordinated field operations, the participating agencies sought to improve their ability to detect and disrupt illicit activities along the border corridor.
Technology-driven approach strengthens border management
Beyond the seizures recorded, the Nigeria Customs Service said Operation GEOCONTROL demonstrated the practical value of geospatial intelligence as an enforcement tool.
According to the Service, the use of multiple risk maps and hotspot analyses supported intelligence-driven field activities and helped officers identify locations requiring closer monitoring.
The exchange of operational information between the Nigerian and Beninese Customs administrations also enhanced coordination and provided a basis for more targeted enforcement activities.
The initiative highlighted the potential of geospatial technology to improve the identification of vulnerable border areas, assess patterns of movement and guide the deployment of personnel and other operational resources.
Rather than treating border security solely as a matter of physical patrols and inspections, the approach places greater emphasis on analysing intelligence and identifying emerging risks before deploying enforcement teams.
The NCS noted that the operation also provided an opportunity to apply the knowledge and practical skills acquired through the GEOINT Master Trainer Programme to actual enforcement challenges.
The successful application of these capabilities represents an important step towards strengthening technology-driven border management and improving the capacity of Customs officers to respond to evolving smuggling methods.
The joint operation also underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing transnational smuggling, which often involves networks operating across national boundaries.
Through the collaboration involving the WCO, JICA, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Benin Customs Administration, the initiative brought together technical expertise, intelligence capabilities and operational resources to address common border security concerns.
The WCO provided coordination for the operation, while JICA supported the initiative as part of the broader joint project aimed at strengthening Customs capacity and border management.
The participation of both Customs administrations demonstrated how neighbouring countries can work together to improve enforcement outcomes through shared intelligence, common operational priorities and coordinated planning.
Such cooperation is particularly important along borders where the movement of people and goods creates opportunities for legitimate trade but can also be exploited by smugglers and other criminal networks.
The NCS maintained that sustained partnerships, capacity development and the effective use of technology remain essential to addressing these challenges.
The post-operation report, dated August 2, 2026, documented the results achieved and the operational lessons arising from the joint deployment.
The findings provide a basis for assessing the effectiveness of the geospatial intelligence approach and identifying areas where future joint operations and capacity-building initiatives could be strengthened.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with international partners and neighbouring Customs administrations to improve border security, enhance intelligence sharing and promote legitimate trade.
The Service said it would continue to leverage relevant technological capabilities, professional expertise and collaborative enforcement frameworks to combat smuggling and protect Nigeria’s national interests.
It also emphasised the importance of developing the capacity of its personnel to respond to emerging enforcement challenges through modern intelligence tools and coordinated operational strategies.
The deployment of geospatial intelligence under Operation GEOCONTROL is expected to contribute to efforts to improve risk assessment, identify vulnerable border locations and ensure that enforcement resources are directed towards priority areas.
The NCS further stressed that collaboration with neighbouring Customs administrations remains crucial to creating a safer and more efficient trading environment.
The outcome of the operation reinforces the argument that effective border security requires more than enforcement within individual national territories. It also depends on sustained cooperation, timely intelligence exchange and the adoption of modern technologies capable of helping authorities identify and respond to cross-border threats.
With six significant seizure cases recorded by the Nigerian Customs Service, 31 seizures reported by the Benin Customs Administration and four suspects detained, Operation GEOCONTROL has highlighted the operational benefits of combining geospatial intelligence with cross-border cooperation.
The Service said it would continue to build on such initiatives to strengthen enforcement, protect government revenue, safeguard national security and facilitate legitimate commercial activities.
