By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in a collaborative intelligence-led operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted nine containers loaded with illicit drugs valued at N53.39 billion at the Apapa Port, Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adeniyi, who disclosed this in Lagos on Wednesday, noted that the seizures, which included Cannabis Sativa, codeine syrup, tramadol, and expired pharmaceuticals, were cleverly concealed within imported vehicles, spare parts, and household items.
According to the Customs boss, the operation was the result of painstaking intelligence gathering, rigorous scanning analysis, and physical examination. He reaffirmed the commitment of the service to societal protection and the security of the nation’s borders.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Adeniyi revealed that two of the containers held 3,639 parcels and 9,918 sachets of ‘Canadian Loud’ cannabis, weighing 6.77 metric tonnes, concealed alongside vehicles and household goods.
Other items seized included 3,398 cartons containing 339,800 bottles of codeine syrup—hidden inside casserole cartons—and 2,569 cartons of expired injections, capsules, eye drops, and teething powder.
Adeniyi stated that while the narcotics would be handed over to the NDLEA for prosecution, the expired drugs would be transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for safe disposal, in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He issued a stern warning to drug traffickers, declaring that the nation’s ports are no longer safe havens for criminal syndicates. “Technology, intelligence, and coordinated border management are effectively closing the gaps previously exploited by these syndicates,” he said.
He further commended the Apapa Area Command, led by Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, for their vigilance, while acknowledging the partnership with the NDLEA and NAFDAC in strengthening Nigeria’s border security.
Representing the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), the Assistant Commander General (ACG) of Narcotics, Dr. Ibinabo Archie-Abia, described the seizure as a landmark achievement in the synergy between the two agencies.
She disclosed that the interceptions, specifically the 6,778.5 kg of ‘Canadian Loud’ recorded on June 15 and June 24, were the culmination of over four months of intelligence-led work by the NDLEA’s Special Investigation Unit and Marine Intelligence Unit, in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“We tracked these containers from Canada through multiple international ports before intercepting them at Apapa following painstaking surveillance,” Archie-Abia stated. She assured that the agency would continue to pursue the arrest and prosecution of suspects, as well as the confiscation of assets linked to the trafficking networks.
Also speaking, the NAFDAC Director of Ports Inspection, Dr. Olakunle Olaniran, who represented the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, lauded the inter-agency cooperation. He noted that intercepting the expired and dangerous pharmaceutical products before they could reach consumers is a significant victory for public health.
“This synergy has demonstrated that all sister agencies are now working on the same page to protect the citizenry and disrupt the networks of those who profit from illicit trade,” Olaniran added.
