The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 16 containers loaded with contraband items, including arms, expired pharmaceuticals, and illicit drugs, at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Monday while parading the seized goods before journalists. He described the interception as a significant step in safeguarding national security and public health.
“Today, it gives me pleasure to announce the seizure of 16 containers of goods whose importation violates our laws and threatens our collective peace and security,” Adeniyi said. “The duty paid value of all these seizures is more than ₦10 billion.”
According to him, the breakthrough followed credible intelligence that led to a joint operation between Customs and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). One of the containers, a 40-foot unit with registration number MRSU6407089, was initially cleared as clean cargo. However, a secondary examination uncovered 202 cans of Colorado Loud — a potent strain of Canadian cannabis — concealed within.
Adeniyi stressed that the importation of such goods contravenes Nigerian laws and poses a grave threat to the country’s safety. He assured that the service would intensify surveillance to curb smuggling and ensure offenders face prosecution.
The seizures, which include other prohibited items not immediately disclosed, are part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on the illegal importation of dangerous goods into Nigeria.
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Adeniyi revealed that the interception was the result of weeks of surveillance and intelligence sharing among security agencies. He noted that the concealment methods used by smugglers have become increasingly sophisticated, but the joint efforts of the NCS and other law enforcement agencies are yielding results.
“Smugglers are constantly devising new ways to evade detection, but our officers are equally committed to staying ahead of them,” he said. “This particular operation shows the value of inter-agency collaboration in protecting Nigeria’s borders.”
The Customs boss emphasised that beyond the illegal arms and expired pharmaceuticals, the intercepted containers contained other prohibited imports capable of undermining the nation’s economic stability and public safety. He added that the exact quantity of arms recovered would be disclosed after a full inventory and forensic examination.
Sources within the NCS said some of the pharmaceutical products had expired for over two years and were labelled in foreign languages, suggesting they were never intended for legal distribution in Nigeria.
The NCS has since launched an investigation to trace the syndicates behind the shipment, and Adeniyi confirmed that prosecutions would follow once the investigation is concluded.
The seizure comes amid growing concerns over the influx of illicit drugs and arms into the country, which authorities say fuels crime and insecurity in several parts of Nigeria.
