Apapa Customs Command Intercepts Cannabis, Expired Drugs Worth N12.78 Billion.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against transnational organized crime, illicit trade, and threats to national security and public health with the interception of a large consignment of cannabis and expired pharmaceutical products at the nation’s busiest seaport.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman.
According to the statement, the seizures were made through intelligence-driven operations conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant security and regulatory agencies.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said officers acting on credible intelligence and advanced risk assessment mechanisms intercepted a 40-foot container (No. CAAU7569127) on June 15, 2026, carrying a substantial quantity of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as “Canadian Loud.”
The illicit drug was concealed inside a Toyota vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, and several bags and drums loaded within the container. In total, officers discovered 3,639 sachets weighing 500 grams each, with an estimated gross weight of 1,819 kilograms (1.81 tonnes).
Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa. Customs authorities described the seizure as further evidence of the Command’s growing capacity to detect and dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks attempting to exploit Nigeria’s maritime gateways.
In a separate operation, the Command intercepted two additional 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products illegally imported into the country.
A physical examination revealed that the products had expired between 2021 and 2023, suggesting an attempt by the importers to repackage, relabel, and reintroduce them into the Nigerian market despite the serious health risks involved.
One of the containers, identified as PCIU8771576, contained expired pharmaceutical products, including Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection, and Becoline B-Complex Injection.
The second container, MRKU4961275, contained a variety of expired medical products such as Oxytocin Injection, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets, and Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.
The Nigeria Customs Service said the seized items have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.78 billion, highlighting the scale of the attempted economic sabotage and the significant public health threat the products posed.
According to the Command, the interception prevented potentially harmful and ineffective medications from reaching hospitals, pharmacies, and households across the country.
The Apapa Area Command attributed the successes to its intelligence-led enforcement strategy, which emphasizes strategic profiling, risk management, data analysis, and robust inter-agency collaboration. The Command reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while targeting high-risk consignments in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.
Reacting to the seizures, Comptroller Oshoba warned individuals involved in smuggling, drug trafficking, and the importation of expired medicines to desist from such activities.
“Unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who engage in smuggling, drug trafficking, and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress. We have the intelligence, technology, and resolve to identify and apprehend them. Anyone contemplating these criminal acts should desist immediately, as the consequences will be swift and decisive. Apapa Port will not be used as a conduit for economic sabotage or a threat to public health,” he stated.
He further assured Nigerians that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance, stressing that officers of the Command remain committed to protecting the economy, safeguarding public health, and preventing criminal exploitation of the nation’s borders.
Comptroller Oshoba reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify intelligence-led operations aimed at securing legitimate trade, protecting lives, and strengthening national security.
