The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine containers loaded with illicit narcotics, counterfeit medicines and expired pharmaceutical products worth ₦53.3 billion at the Apapa Port, describing the operation as one of its biggest anti-smuggling breakthroughs in recent years.
The seized consignments were officially handed over on Wednesday to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation, prosecution and regulatory action.
Addressing journalists during the handover, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the seizures resulted from intelligence-driven operations, advanced cargo scanning, detailed physical examinations and close collaboration with the NDLEA.
According to him, one of the intercepted 40-foot containers (CAAU7569127) concealed 3,639 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Canadian Loud,” weighing 1,819.5 kilogrammes, hidden among imported vehicles and spare parts. Another container (HAMU3246311) contained about 4.95 metric tonnes of Cannabis Sativa packed in 9,918 sachets and concealed alongside vehicles and household items.
Customs also intercepted two containers (MRKU3816476 and TGBU5399178) carrying 3,398 cartons of Codeine Syrup, equivalent to about 339,800 bottles, hidden inside casserole products.
Three additional containers were found with expired pharmaceutical products, including Tramadol (Timakadol), Oxytocin injections, Mexclor Eye Drops, Carbamazepine tablets (Termigral), Cloxicillin capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 injections and Becoline B-Complex injections.
Another container was loaded with Piccan Teething Powder, while a separate consignment contained 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number and a misleading expiry date of December 2028.
Adeniyi said the significance of the seizures extends beyond their financial value.
“These seizures represent far more than monetary value. They represent lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines”, he said.
He warned that the importation of expired medicines and controlled substances poses a serious threat to public health, adding that the sophisticated concealment methods used by criminal syndicates demonstrate their determination to exploit legitimate trade channels.
The Customs boss disclosed that the final pharmaceutical shipment initially appeared genuine but was flagged through the Service’s Non-Intrusive Inspection technology and intelligence analysis. Further verification revealed that the products were not registered with NAFDAC, while the fake registration number confirmed a deliberate attempt to smuggle unregistered medicines into the Nigerian market.
He said the pharmaceutical consignments were seized under the provisions of the NCS Act, 2023, and formally handed over to NAFDAC, while all narcotic shipments were transferred to the NDLEA for investigation and prosecution.
Adeniyi commended officers of the Apapa Area Command for their vigilance and professionalism, reaffirming the Service’s resolve to intensify its anti-smuggling campaign.
“Every intelligence lead will be pursued, every violation thoroughly investigated and every offender brought to justice in accordance with the law”, he declared, warning criminal syndicates that Nigeria’s seaports are “no longer safe havens” for illicit trade.
The seized narcotics were formally received by the Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, represented by Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics, Achie-Abia Ogboba.
Speaking on behalf of the NDLEA Chairman, Ogboba described the handover as another milestone in the growing partnership between the NDLEA and the NCS.
She disclosed that the two agencies had jointly intercepted 6,778.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica (“Canadian Loud”) in two major operations carried out on June 15 and June 24, 2026, following four months of intelligence-led surveillance involving the NDLEA’s Special Investigation Unit, Marine Intelligence Unit and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
According to her, the two containers originated from Canada, passed through Morocco and Spain before arriving in Nigeria, where they were intercepted through coordinated security operations.
Receiving the counterfeit and expired pharmaceutical products on behalf of NAFDAC, Olakunle Olaniran commended the enduring collaboration between NAFDAC and the NCS, describing it as vital to protecting Nigerians from the dangers of fake, expired and unregistered medicines.