Customs Intercepts ₦26.57bn Cannabis Hidden in Vehicle Container at Apapa Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 4,143.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica with an estimated street value of ₦26.57 billion, concealed in a container of imported used vehicles at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

The seizure, which followed a joint operation by the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was based on credible intelligence that led to the interception of the illicit consignment.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command's Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, the breakthrough came after the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, directed officers to carry out a comprehensive examination of a 40-foot container with registration number FANU1933352.

The inspection, conducted on July 10, 2026, revealed three imported used vehicles inside the container—a 2015 red Nissan Micra, a 2019 black Toyota Corolla S, and a 2015 grey Toyota Corolla.

A more detailed search uncovered 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, each weighing 500 grams, bringing the total weight of the seizure to 4,143.5 kilograms.

Investigators discovered that four of the bags had been concealed inside the Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden beneath the container's floor and within spaces between the three vehicles. Customs officials confirmed that no illicit drugs were found inside either of the Toyota Corolla cars.

Speaking on the interception, Comptroller Oshoba described the seizure as another demonstration of the command's resolve to prevent prohibited items from entering the country through Nigeria's busiest seaport.

"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," he said.

He also reassured compliant importers and traders of the command's commitment to trade facilitation, stressing that legitimate businesses would continue to benefit from the incentives introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

Oshoba noted that the operation aligned with the Comptroller-General's zero-tolerance policy against smuggling and other forms of illicit trade across the nation's ports, adding that the Apapa Command would continue to strike a balance between facilitating legitimate commerce and enforcing laws against prohibited imports.

He commended the Customs officers and NDLEA personnel involved in the operation for their professionalism and vigilance, describing their efforts as critical to safeguarding the nation's economy and public health.

The command disclosed that the container has been seized in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those behind the attempted smuggling operation.