Apapa Customs Seizes ₦26.57bn Cannabis Hidden in Vehicle Container, Vows Crackdown on Drug Smuggling
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has seized Cannabis Indica with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦26,569,847,771, weighing 4,143.5 kilograms, concealed inside a 40-foot container during a joint examination with personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The seizure followed credible intelligence that prompted the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, to order a thorough examination of a 40-foot container, number FANU1933352, at the Command's Enforcement Unit. The operation, carried out on Friday, July 10, 2026, uncovered a massive cache of illicit drugs concealed alongside imported vehicles.
According to a statement issued by the Command's Public Relations Officer, CSC Suleiman Isah, the container was declared to contain three used vehicles: a 2015 red Nissan Micra, a 2019 black Toyota Corolla S, and a 2015 gray Toyota Corolla.
A detailed examination, however, revealed 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, with each parcel weighing 500 grams, bringing the total weight of the narcotics to 4,143.5 kilograms.
Further findings showed that four bags of the illicit substance were concealed inside the red Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden on the floor of the container and in the spaces between the three vehicles. No prohibited substances were found inside either the black Toyota Corolla S or the gray Toyota Corolla.
Speaking on the seizure, Comptroller Oshoba said the interception underscored the Command's unwavering vigilance and commitment to preventing prohibited items, particularly dangerous narcotics, from entering the country.
He noted that the operation was in line with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi against all forms of illicit trade at Nigeria's ports.
The CAC reaffirmed the Command's determination to facilitate legitimate trade while maintaining strict enforcement against the importation of prohibited and restricted goods. He also commended officers involved in the operation for their diligence and professionalism.
"This seizure once again demonstrates our untiring commitment in ensuring that only lawful trade thrives in Apapa Port. As we intensify investigation into the matter, I want to reiterate that this command has made the port a no-go area for anything forbidden by our laws.
"Let me use this opportunity to rebuild the confidence of our compliant traders and assure them once again that they would always enjoy the many trade facilitation incentives emplaced by the Comptroller General of Customs," he said.
Following the discovery, Comptroller Oshoba ordered the seizure of the container in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and other extant laws, while investigations into the shipment continue.
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