Nigeria, Benin bust smugglers in first intelligence-led border operation

Customs authorities in Nigeria and the Benin Republic have disrupted smuggling activities and seized illicit goods in their “first-of-its-kind” geospatial intelligence-led operation along the Benin–Nigeria border corridor.

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) said in a statement on Friday that 37 seizures, including narcotics, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, and consumer goods, were made during the eight-day mission dubbed Operation GEOCONTROL.

The WCO said customs authorities in Benin and Nigeria adopted geospatial intelligence to identify smuggling routes, map out high-risk areas, and coordinate enforcement activities along the border.

“The World Customs Organisation (WCO), through the WCO–JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project and in partnership with the customs administrations of Benin and Nigeria, has successfully concluded Operation GEOCONTROL, the first-ever WCO-led operational deployment using Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) as a core customs enforcement capability,” it said.

It added, “Conducted along the Benin–Nigeria border corridor, the operation combined geospatial analysis, risk profiling, and field intelligence to support coordinated Customs deployments between the two administrations.”

According to the organisation, the operation followed a rigorous training programme, the Master Trainer Programme on GEOINT, to strengthen customs’ capacity by leveraging intelligence capabilities.

“Successful application of rigorous training in an operational setting strengthened customs’ capacity to identify enforcement hotspots by harnessing geospatial intelligence capabilities,” the organisation said.

Customs officers exchanged information in real time and developed a shared operational picture of the border environment, using the WCO Geoportal; GEOINT and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications; drones; secure communication platforms through the WCO Customs Enforcement Network Communication Platform (CENcomm); and other tools.

The WCO said this strengthened their awareness and enabled officers to address threats, including arms and ammunition, narcotics, counterfeit goods, and environmentally sensitive products protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

It said Operation GEOCONTROL demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation on security and border management, as well as the integration of geospatial intelligence and innovative technologies into customs enforcement.

“Benin and Nigeria have showcased the tangible benefits of integrating innovative technologies and WCO-developed tools into operational practice,” said WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders. 

“The operation also highlights the importance of cross-border and inter-agency cooperation in addressing increasingly complex security challenges and disrupting illicit trade networks.” 

The WCO said Operation GEOCONTROL, designed to apply geospatial intelligence in customs operations, recorded success following the training, which hadcustoms officers from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.

“GEOCONTROL represents an important milestone in customs enforcement modernisation and shows how WCO capacity-building activities, including the Master Trainer Programme, partnerships, and operational tools, can translate data into actionable intelligence and concrete results that protect society,” the organisation said.

WCO was established in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) to strengthen cooperation, facilitate legitimate activities, and provide support to customs administrations.