Customs Seize 13 Containers of Expired Drugs, Illicit Goods Worth ₦6.38bn at Apapa Port
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 13 containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products, illicit drugs and other prohibited items worth ₦6.38 billion at the Apapa Port Complex, dealing what authorities described as a major blow to smugglers attempting to funnel dangerous goods into the country.
The seizures were announced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during an inspection of the intercepted items at the port on Tuesday.
Among the items displayed were fake and expired pharmaceutical products, illicit drugs, cannabis sativa (Colorado), and expired tomato paste smuggled through the busy port.
Adeniyi condemned what he described as the persistent activities of smugglers and importers of unwholesome goods, warning that the port would no longer serve as a gateway for dangerous products.
“Apapa port remained Nigeria’s busiest maritime gateway and one of the most strategic trade corridors in West Africa,” he said, noting that the service had intensified collaboration with government agencies and industry stakeholders to combat the menace.
According to him, the Customs Service has increasingly relied on technology-driven enforcement tools to improve cargo inspection and detect suspicious shipments.
He explained that the introduction of non-intrusive inspection systems has strengthened examination procedures at the ports.
“These systems enable officers to examine containerized cargo rapidly, detect anomalies in declarations and identify suspicious consignments without unnecessarily disrupting legitimate trade flows,” he said.
Adeniyi also highlighted the continued challenge of port congestion and said measures such as the recently launched Green Channel at the Lekki Deep Seaport were designed to accelerate cargo clearance for compliant traders while tightening scrutiny on high-risk consignments.
“As the volume of trade passing through Nigerian ports continues to grow, the responsibility placed on the Nigeria Customs Service becomes even greater. Thousands of containers pass through this port every day carrying goods that support businesses, sustain industries and drive our national economy,” he said.
“While their mandate requires them to facilitate legitimate trade, they must also ensure that our ports are not exploited by criminal networks attempting to introduce dangerous, prohibited or falsely declared goods into the country.”
Operational data from the Apapa Port Complex shows that 3,236 consignments were processed through the Orange channel for scanning, 5,490 through the Yellow channel for documentary checks, while a much higher 21,373 consignments underwent full physical examination under the Red channel. In addition, 1,118 consignments passed through the Blue channel and 149 through the Green channel.
Adeniyi said the figures show that physical examination still dominates cargo control procedures and stressed the need to expand scanning technology across Nigerian ports.
“Strengthening non-intrusive inspection and combining it with intelligence-driven risk management, will enable the Service concentrate physical examinations on high-risk shipments and facilitate faste clearance for compliant traders,” he said.
He added that the agency plans to significantly increase the volume of cargo subjected to scanning across major ports including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar before the end of the year.
The Customs boss said the latest seizures were the result of improved intelligence gathering and risk profiling by officers at the port.
“Through careful risk profiling and non-intrusive inspection procedures, officers of the Service identified several containers with irregular cargo profiles that warranted further examination. What they are presenting today involves 13 containers and additional contraband items intercepted through coordinated enforcement operations,” he added.
“Collectively, these seizures amount to ₦6,38 billion worth of prohibited, expired and falsely declared goods. The importation of expired drugs and controlled substances poses a direct threat to public health, while the concealment of codeine-based products represents a calculated attempt to fuel substance abuse and undermine our healthcare system,” Adeniyi warned.
He stressed that under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the seized consignments would be forfeited to the federal government while those connected to the shipments would face prosecution.
“In accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, these consignments are liable to outright forfeiture, while penalties will be imposed, evaded revenues recovered and all persons connected to these shipments will face prosecution,” he said.
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