Customs Busts Drug Syndicate, Seizes ₦3.95bn Worth of Illicit Drugs
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, has intercepted narcotics worth ₦3.95 billion and arrested three suspects in a four-month anti-smuggling operation across the zone.
The seizures, which included over three tonnes of cannabis, Tramadol, Codeine syrup and crystal methamphetamine, were disclosed on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during the handover of the seized items to relevant government agencies in Lagos.
The Comptroller of the unit, Gambo Aliyu, said the operation was carried out along border corridors, highways and other strategic locations within the unit’s area of responsibility.
He said the seizures underscored Customs’ commitment to combating smuggling and protecting national security and public health.
Among the items recovered were 5,669 parcels and 19 sacks of synthetic-strain cannabis sativa weighing 3,116.9kg; cannabis skunk weighing 30.8kg; one wrap of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg; and 24 packets of Backwoods Russian Cream cigars.
The unit also seized 1,754 packs and 6,948 sachets of 225mg and 100mg Tramadol tablets, 1,200 Hypnox 1mg tablets and 97 bottles of Codeine syrup.
The narcotics, valued at ₦3,951,085,000, were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), alongside the three suspects, for further investigation.
Aliyu warned that the illicit trafficking of controlled substances posed serious threats to public health, national security and young people, noting that such drugs fuel addiction, violence and criminality.
He pledged continued cooperation with the NDLEA to disrupt the movement of narcotics and other illicit goods across Nigeria’s borders
Mercury Intercepted
In a separate seizure, Customs officers intercepted four canisters of high-grade mercury, each weighing 34.5kg, along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
The hazardous substance, commonly associated with small-scale gold mining, was handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for proper handling.
Aliyu said the development demonstrated the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling increasingly sophisticated smuggling and transborder crimes.
He called for stronger information sharing, coordinated intelligence, joint operations and prompt transfer of seized items to agencies with the appropriate jurisdiction.
The mercury was received by NESREA representative David Vonkur, while the NDLEA Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Lagos State Command, J.E. Akogwu, received the seized narcotics and the three suspects.
