The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command has intercepted 13 containers with over 7.6 tonnes of cannabis sativa, 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup, security-sensitive drones and large quantities of expired consumer and pharmaceutical products.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Apapa Area Command in the presence of the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba and heads of other sister agencies earlier today, 10th September, 2026, according to CGC, the seized consignments have a combined duty-paid value of ₦43.59 billion.
He said the seizures were made as a result of sustained intelligence-led operations supported by enhanced cargo profiling, risk assessment, documentary scrutiny and targeted physical examination.
"The containers behind me are not an isolated event and they should not be reported as one; the Service’s mandate extends beyond revenue collection to include securing the supply chain, protecting Nigeria’s borders and preventing unsafe or prohibited goods from entering the country" he explained.
Three of the containers contained a combined 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg, or more than 7.6 tonnes. The consignments were intercepted in containers with numbers, HAMU 3086682, FANU 1933352 and MSKU 3941778.
HAMU 3086682 contained 4,777 parcels of cannabis weighing 2,388.5kg, concealed alongside assorted automobile spare parts, coffee mix, oats and three vehicles. FANU 1933352 contained 8,287 parcels weighing 4,145kg, alongside three vehicles
The third container, MSKU 3941778, according the the CGC contained 2,181 parcels weighing 1,090.5kg, alongside foreign parboiled rice, automobile spare parts, lithium batteries, a photovoltaic combiner box, turmeric and fish products.
Adeniyi said the cannabis interceptions were achieved through inter-agency cooperation involving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and intelligence from international security partners.
He said the information was analysed and acted upon through cargo profiling, documentary checks and targeted examination by Customs officers also intercepted TCKU 7653306, a 40-foot container carrying 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup concealed beneath household items.
Adeniyi described the abuse of prohibited substances such as codeine among young Nigerians as a longstanding national concern, citing its wider consequences for families, public safety and productivity.
Explaining further, Adeniyi said officers of the command Intercepted 108 high-definition dual-camera drones from container MSKU 9282528. Acknowledging the legitimate use of drones, the CGC warned that such equipment can become a security threat when placed in the wrong hands.
He said importers of restricted or security-sensitive equipment must obtain the necessary security approvals such as End - User Certificates and supporting documentation before clearance can be made.
He also stated that officers of the command equally uncovered five containers loaded with expired products, such as tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies. He warned that importation of expired products poses significant risks to consumers, particularly as such products may be purchased and used without consumers being aware of their condition.
Three additional containers MRKU 6185100, MRKU 5535966 and SEKU 4685299 were found to contain a combined 1,282 bales of used clothing.
The Comptroller-General said the seizures demonstrate the Service’s increased capacity to identify high-risk consignments while facilitating the movement of legitimate trade.
He attributed the improved targeting capability to strengthened cargo profiling and risk assessment, supported by the B’Odogwu digital platform
He also highlighted the establishment in July of an INTERPOL Data Centre at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, which he said gives officers access to more than 152 international databases.
He reiterated the Service e added continued commitment to deepen cooperation with the NDLEA, NAFDAC, the Office of the National Security Adviser and international security partners, disclosing that the seized narcotics and other offending items would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further action.
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