The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 4,143.5 kilograms of cannabis indica with an estimated street value of N26.5bn, concealed inside three imported used vehicles packed in a 40-foot container at the Apapa Port, in one of the command’s largest narcotics seizures in recent times.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed the seizure on Tuesday during a briefing at the command headquarters in Lagos, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat the smuggling of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s seaports.
According to Oshoba, the seizure was made on July 10, 2026, during a joint examination conducted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following credible intelligence that prompted a detailed inspection of container number FANU1933352.
He explained that the container was manifested to contain three used vehicles, a red 2015 Nissan Micra, a black 2019 Toyota Corolla S, and a gray 2015 Toyota Corolla.
However, a thorough examination uncovered 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of cannabis indica, each weighing 500 grams.
The Customs Area Controller disclosed that four of the bags were concealed inside the Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were strategically hidden on the floor of the container and in the spaces between the vehicles. No narcotics were found inside the two Toyota Corolla vehicles.
“The drugs were carefully concealed within the container to evade detection by security agencies,” Oshoba said.
“They were strategically packed to maximise concealment while using the imported vehicles as cover.
“This seizure demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that only legitimate trade passes through Apapa Port. We have made this port a no-go area for anything prohibited under Nigerian law.”
He noted that the successful interception underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led enforcement operations being deployed by the command and reaffirmed the agency’s determination to dismantle smuggling networks using the nation’s seaports to traffic illicit substances.
Oshoba attributed the success of the operation to the close collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, stressing that inter-agency cooperation remains critical to strengthening border security and preventing the entry of prohibited goods into the country.
He added that the operation aligns with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, against the importation of prohibited and restricted items through Nigeria’s ports.
The Customs boss commended officers of both agencies for their professionalism and vigilance during the joint examination, noting that their commitment was instrumental in uncovering the concealed narcotics.
He further disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals and organisations connected with the shipment, while the seized container, vehicles and illicit drugs have been confiscated in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and other relevant laws.
Oshoba reiterated the Apapa Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining strict enforcement against smuggling and other forms of transnational organised crime.
He also urged compliant importers and other stakeholders to continue to take advantage of the trade facilitation initiatives introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, assuring them that lawful businesses would continue to receive support, while those engaged in illegal activities would face the full weight of the law.
The latest seizure adds to a series of interceptions recorded by the Nigeria Customs Service as authorities intensify surveillance and intelligence-driven operations across the country’s ports to curb the trafficking of illicit drugs and other prohibited goods into Nigeria.
