The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted consignments containing more than 7.6 tonnes of cannabis sativa, 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup, 108 high-definition dual-camera drones and other prohibited or expired goods with a combined duty-paid value of ₦43.59 billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Thursday while showcasing 13 seized containers at Apapa Port to sister agencies and other relevant authorities.
Adeniyi said the seizures fell into three major categories: narcotics and controlled pharmaceuticals, security-sensitive equipment, and expired goods intended for human use.
He explained that the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, mandates the Service to go beyond revenue collection by securing the supply chain, protecting Nigeria’s borders and safeguarding the quality and safety of goods entering the country.
According to him, the total duty-paid value of the intercepted consignments stood at ₦43,588,618,859.
The three containers containing cannabis sativa were found to hold a combined 15,245 parcels weighing 7,624 kilogrammes, or more than 7.6 tonnes.
One of the containers contained 4,777 parcels weighing 2,388.5kg, another held 8,287 parcels weighing 4,145kg, while the third contained 2,181 parcels weighing 1,090.5kg.
The seizures also included 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup, concealed beneath household items.
Adeniyi said the cannabis interceptions resulted from intelligence-driven collaboration between Customs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and international security partners.
He said the intelligence was analysed and acted upon through cargo profiling, documentary scrutiny and targeted examination by Customs officers.
The Customs chief also disclosed that officers extracted 108 high-definition dual-camera drones from one of the intercepted consignments.
While acknowledging that drones have legitimate applications, he warned that security-sensitive equipment could become a threat when placed in the wrong hands.
“Restricted and security sensitive equipment requires the appropriate security approvals, end-user certificates and documentation before clearance. Consignments of that character that arrive without them will be detained,” Adeniyi said.
He stressed that Nigerian ports would not be allowed to become channels through which surveillance, reconnaissance or other capabilities could reach individuals or groups working against the security of the country.
The seizures further included 1,282 bales of used clothing, while five containers were found to contain expired tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.
Adeniyi warned that the importation of expired products posed serious risks to consumers, particularly because many of such products could be used or consumed without buyers being able to immediately detect that they had expired.
“These are products applied to the body and consumed by households. Their importation after expiry places children, women and other consumers at risk of harm they have no means of detecting at the point of purchase,” he said.
He said the seized narcotics and other relevant items would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further action, while assuring legitimate traders that Customs would continue to facilitate lawful commerce.
Adeniyi warned importers and operators involved in false declaration, concealment, undervaluation or the importation of prohibited goods that the Service would not allow Nigerian ports, border stations or logistics channels to become safe havens for illicit trade.
He urged importers uncertain about the classification, valuation or origin of products to make use of the Customs Advance Ruling mechanism before shipment.
He also encouraged compliant operators to enrol in the Authorised Economic Operator programme, noting that sustained compliance could provide more predictable clearance and fewer interventions where risk assessments permitted.
The Comptroller-General commended officers and men of the Apapa Area Command for their vigilance and professionalism, as well as the NDLEA, NAFDAC and international partners for their cooperation.
He reaffirmed that the Customs Service would continue to protect Nigeria’s ports from the trafficking of narcotics, controlled drugs, security-sensitive equipment and expired products while facilitating legitimate trade and economic activity.
