The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 4,143.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica with an estimated street value of ₦26.57 billion, concealed inside a container carrying imported used vehicles at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure, described as one of the Command’s major anti-smuggling breakthroughs, was made during a joint examination by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following credible intelligence.
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed that the illicit consignment was uncovered in a 40-foot container (No. FANU1933352) after he directed officers to carry out a detailed physical examination of the cargo.
The container, intercepted on Friday, July 10, 2026, contained three used vehicles—a 2015 red Nissan Micra, a 2019 black Toyota Corolla S, and a 2015 grey Toyota Corolla.
Meanwhile a thorough inspection revealed 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, each weighing 500 grams, bringing the total weight of the narcotics to 4,143.5 kilograms.
According to the Command, four bags of the illicit substance were ingeniously concealed inside the red Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden beneath the container floor and in the spaces between the three vehicles. No drugs were found inside the two Toyota Corolla vehicles.
Comptroller Oshoba said the seizure underscores the Apapa Area Command’s unwavering commitment to combating illicit trade and preventing dangerous drugs from entering the country through the nation’s busiest seaport.
He noted that the operation aligns with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, against smuggling and other forms of illegal importation.
“This seizure once again demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that only legitimate trade thrives at Apapa Port. As investigations continue, I want to reaffirm that this command has made the port a no-go area for anything prohibited under our laws,” Oshoba said.
He also reassured compliant importers and stakeholders that the Command remains committed to trade facilitation, stressing that genuine traders will continue to enjoy the incentives and reforms introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs.
The Customs Area Controller commended officers of the Apapa Command for their vigilance, professionalism and dedication, describing the successful interception as a testament to effective intelligence-driven enforcement and inter-agency collaboration with the NDLEA.
He further directed that the container and its contents be seized in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, while investigations continue to identify and prosecute those behind the attempted importation of the prohibited drugs.
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