The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of arms, ammunition, pharmaceuticals and other products concealed in 16 containers at Apapa port.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, during a press briefing held at the Apapa Command headquarters in Lagos.
The CGC informed that 14 out of the 16 containers were laden with prohibited drugs, expired medicament, expired food items and other items that contravains the import guidelines, including arms and ammunition with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items according to the CGC is N10,273,694,595.00 (Ten billion, two hundred and seventy-three million, six hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and ninety-five naira) only.
Adeniyi noted that these smuggled items have harmful effect on the health and wellbeing of unsuspecting citizens who would have consumed them and in addition to causing insecurity in the country.
He expressed regret that despite the campaigns against these unwholesome importation backed with seizures and arrests, merchants of death have chosen Apapa Port which has a very dynamic enforcement czar in person of Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD as it's Customs Area Controller as an entry point for prohibited items.
In his words, “Despite our campaigns against these kinds of importation backed with seizures and arrests, the people I call merchants of death have chosen Apapa Port as an entry point for prohibited items; as usual, they failed to pull through.
“We are resolute to confront these people who do not mean well for Nigerians and the economy by ensuring our entry points are not used for their unlawful acts.
Giving account of the seizures, the CGC said, “Our operatives in Apapa Port with the support of our internal intelligence and sister government agencies have seized three (3)containers of expired margarine, three (3) containers of used clothes and five (5) containers carrying expired drugs, prohibited medicament and colorado hemp;
“On July 24, 2025, during a joint physical examination with the NDLEA,a 1x40ft container number MRSU 6407089 was found to contain 202 Cans of Colorado Loud a specie of cannabis from Canada) with each can weighing 500 grams totaling 101Kg.
“Also, inside the same container, we uncovered 2 pump action rifles, 25 cartridges of ammunition, 1 Smith & Wesson Pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, 1 blank, and other accessories.
“Confirming a case of false declaration and attempting to circumvent our processes, the system bill of laden listed the items of import as 3 Toyota Sienna and 1Toyota Camry vehicles with the consignee as Babatunde Ogidiolu Samuel.
“Consequently, two suspects, the agent, one Mr. Modi Azuka of No.1 Miracle Street, Ago Palace Way, and another suspect identified as Mrs. Lisa Akpedeme have been arrested and detained in connection with the Canadian Loud and weapons.They are currently undergoing interrogation.
“We also seized container number 4243517 OERU (40FT) found to contain 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken breast and another 40FT FBIU 5507953 found to contain 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken breast.
“In a related development, another seized container number ZCSU 7277511 (40FT) was found to contain 305 cartons of toothpaste without NAFDAC registration number, cartons of slippers concealed in 46 cartons of beads, 40 cartons of Jalamiya, amongst others.
“Furthermore, just this morning, operatives at the Apapa port intercepted two containers (1x40ft and 1x20ft) carrying 2,401 cartons of codeine syrup.
“For the arms, ammunition and drugs, the two suspects shall be handed over to the NDLEA and DSS for further investigation and prosecution while the other two held for the poultry products shall be handed over to NAFDAC.
"In a separate development, container number CAIU 4979294 1x40 was found to contain CSP codeine syrup; another 1×40 container number MRKU 3738603 was found to contain 1,100 cartons of expired chest and lungs tablets without NAFDAC number.
“Similarly, we also have seven other seizures comprising three containers of expired margarine and two containers of used clothing; a 1x20 container was laden with 540 cartons of expired feed and cyprophetadine tablets without NAFDAC number.
While reiterating on the resolve of NCS Adeniyi said, “Our vow to protect the national economy, the well-being of citizens and residents of Nigeria remains unshaken. “Let me once again warn that the NCS, with the support of our strategic partners, will keep delivering uncompromising enforcement backed by intelligence to detect and seize prohibited items".
“Therefore, perpetrators of these unlawful acts and their collaborators will also not be spared by the long arms of the law whenever our investigation gives clue about their complicity in these criminal activities
“Criminal elements who are determined to make our country a hub for destructive substances will always have our operatives to contend with. For us, this is a full-scale resistance and arrest session for them and we are not ready to give up on this. We will run them out of business into jail" the CGC assured
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