The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine containers filled with illicit drugs, expired pharmaceuticals, and counterfeit medical products valued at ₦53.39 billion at Apapa Port, Lagos.
Showcasing the seizures before the newsmen during the formal handover ceremony on 30th June, 2026, at Apapa port, Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, explained that the operation was driven by intelligence gathering, cargo scanning, physical examination, and collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
A breakdown of seized items included Cannabis Sativa (‘Canadian Loud’) in two 40-foot containers concealed with vehicles, household items, and spare parts, 3,639 parcels weighing 1,819.5kg, and 9,918 sachets weighing about 4.95 metric tonnes.
The illicit pharmaceutical products included two containers with 339,800 bottles hidden inside cartons of insulated casserole dishes, three containers containing Tramadol, Oxytocin injections, Carbamazepine tablets, Cloxicillin capsules, Vitamin B12, and B-Complex injections.
The counterfeit products intercepted included one container of Piccan Teething Powder flagged for regulatory action, one container with 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC number.
According to Adeniyi, investigations confirmed that the products were never registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), indicating a deliberate attempt to flood the Nigerian market with unregistered medicines.
He said the total Duty Paid Value of the nine seizures stood at ₦53,391,140,029, stressing that the significance of the operation goes beyond the monetary value.
“These seizures represent far more than monetary value. They represent lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines,” he said.
The Comptroller-General noted that the operation came shortly after the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and reflected resolutions reached during the 147th and 148th Council Sessions of the World Customs Organization in Brussels, where customs administrations reaffirmed their commitment to protecting society through vigilance and international cooperation.
He announced that all narcotic drugs seized would be formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while the expired and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal.
Adeniyi clarified that vehicles, spare parts and other legitimate goods used to conceal the contraband would remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service for seizure, forfeiture, condemnation, revenue recovery and other enforcement actions in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
He commended officers of the Apapa Area Command for their professionalism and vigilance, while also praising the sustained collaboration between the Customs Service, NDLEA, NAFDAC and other security agencies. Warning smugglers and criminal syndicates, Adeniyi declared that Nigerian ports were no longer safe havens for traffickers of illicit drugs, expired medicines and other prohibited goods.
The seized narcotics were formally received by the Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, represented by Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics, Achie-Abia Ogboba.
Speaking on behalf of the NDLEA Chairman, Abia Ogboba described the handover as another milestone in the growing partnership between the NDLEA and the NCS.
She disclosed that the two agencies had jointly intercepted 6,778.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica (“Canadian Loud”) in two major operations carried out on June 15 and June 24, 2026, following four months of intelligence-led surveillance involving the NDLEA’s Special Investigation Unit, Marine Intelligence Unit and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
According to her, the two containers originated from Canada, passed through Morocco and Spain before arriving in Nigeria, where they were intercepted through coordinated security operations.
Marwa commended the officers and personnel of the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies for their professionalism, courage and commitment, describing them as “effective guardians of Nigeria’s maritime gateways.”
He also praised the Comptroller-General of Customs for strengthening inter-agency cooperation, noting that intelligence sharing and joint operations have become critical tools in disrupting organised criminal networks.
Receiving the counterfeit and expired pharmaceutical products on behalf of NAFDAC, Olakunle Olaniran commended the enduring collaboration between NAFDAC and the NCS, describing it as vital to protecting Nigerians from the dangers of fake, expired and unregistered medicines.
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