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Customs Continues Onslaught Against Illicit Drug Imports As LFTZ Command Intercepts 400kg Of Cannabis Indica... Hands Over Items To NDLEA

By Anne Ejuka


The Nigeria Customs Service NCS in another onslaught against illicit drug importation into the country, has intercepted and seized yet another cache of banned substance. 


This latest action was carried out by the  Lagos Free Trade Zone Command of the Service as the officers in collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA personnels intercepted a 20ft container with Container No. PRSU1562064,  concealed  with 400 kilograms of Cannabis Indica commonly know as 'Loud' with a street value of over ₦2.26 billion.



Briefing newsmen yesterday Thursday, 15th  October, 2026, the Acting Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, who is just barely 2 weeks in office states that the seizure is a significant victory for public safety and national security stressing that illicit drugs fuel addiction, organized crime, and insecurity.



Giving an account of the seizure, Kukoyi said his officers, while acting on credible intelligence, halted the suspicious consignment, which was scheduled for onward movement to a bonded terminal outside the Command. A non-intrusive scan revealed anomalies, prompting a joint physical examination by Customs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).


He stated that the inspection uncovered 400 packages of narcotics concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing papers.


While commending  the vigilance of Customs officers of the command and the cooperation of sister agencies, the new CAC noted that the operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led enforcement and inter-agency collaboration. 


According to him, the seizure reaffirms  Customs’ commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining zero tolerance for smuggling and drug trafficking, the Acting Controller stressed that the interception demonstrated the resolve to ensure Nigeria’s ports remain gateways to prosperity, not corridors for criminality.



Kukoyi acknowledged the visionary leadership and unwavering support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi, whose policy thrust on consolidation, collaboration and innovation continues to strengthen the operational capacity of the Service in the areas of trade facilitation, revenue generation and enforcement.



The Controller urged port operators, shipping companies, clearing agents, and the public to remain vigilant and provide timely intelligence to security agencies to rid the society of dangers of drugs.


The high point of the briefing was the handing over of the offending consignment to the NDLEA officials in the presence of other senior Officers of the command, representative of the terminal operators and other sister government agencies.


Reacting, the National Commander of Narcotics, Lagos Free Trade Zone, Jonah Achema, commended the cooperation that exists among the agencies operating within the zone, he notes that the seizure of 400 kilograms of Cannabis indica imported from Thailand was a landmark achievement.



Achema said, “Today’s event, coming barely few days after the take-over of the Customs Command by the new CAC sends a very strong signal that the CAC is ready to take inter-agency collaboration as well as the counter-narcotic onslaught to the next level. It sends the appropriate message to the unscrupulous maritime drug criminals that their operations will only end in the drag net of the Agency”.


Achema emphasized that the Command’s achievements align with the vision of NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), CFR, OON which is anchored  on “disrupting, dismantling, and defeating drug mercantile.” He added that Lekki Port is becoming “almost impervious to illicit drug shipments” thanks to intelligence-driven vigilance.


He assures the Acting Controller and the other government Agencies operating within the command of NDLEA's collaboration, saying, "NDLEA will remain consistent and will continue to do everything to sustain the hard earned collaboration that has brought the streak of successes at the Command.





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