By Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against transnational crime, drug trafficking, and the importation of harmful products into the country.
In a statement issued on by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, the Service disclosed that officers, working in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with a large consignment of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Canadian Loud.”
The seizure was made on June 15, 2026, following credible intelligence and the deployment of advanced risk assessment tools. The container, bearing number CAAU7569127, was found to contain 3,639 sachets of the illicit substance, each weighing 500 grams, bringing the total weight to approximately 1,819 kilograms (1.81 tonnes).
According to the statement, preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa.
The drugs were cleverly concealed inside a black vehicle, along with a Toyota Sienna and several bags and drums packed within the container in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Customs said the operation underscores the Command’s growing capacity to identify and dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks exploiting Nigeria’s maritime gateways.
In a related development, the Apapa Command also intercepted two 40-foot containers laden with expired pharmaceutical products illegally imported into the country.
Physical examination revealed that the drugs had expiration dates ranging from 2021 to 2023 and were allegedly intended for relabeling and reintroduction into the Nigerian market, posing significant health risks to consumersOne of the containers, numbered PCIU8771576, contained expired pharmaceutical products including Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection, and Becoline B-Complex Injection.
The second container, numbered MRKU4961275, was found to contain expired medical products such as Oxytocin Injection, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets, and Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.
The seized items have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.78 billion, highlighting what Customs described as a major attempt at economic sabotage and a threat to public health.
The Command noted that the interception prevented potentially dangerous and ineffective medications from reaching hospitals, pharmacies, and households across the country.
Speaking on the seizures, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, warned smugglers and importers involved in criminal activities to desist immediately.
“Unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress.
“We have the intelligence, the technology and the resolve to identify and apprehend them. Anyone still contemplating these criminal acts should immediately desist because the consequences will be swift, decisive and uncompromising,” he said.
He further stressed that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance, adding that officers of the Command are committed to protecting the nation’s economy, safeguarding public health, and preventing criminal exploitation of Nigeria’s borders.
The Customs Area Controller reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intensifying intelligence-led operations aimed at securing legitimate trade, protecting lives, and strengthening national security.