The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted Cannabis Indica valued at ₦26.57 billion concealed inside a container of imported used vehicles at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure, made in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), involved 4,143.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica packed in 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels weighing 500 grams each.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, the illicit consignment was discovered during a thorough examination of a 40-foot container (No. FANU1933352) following credible intelligence.
The container, intercepted on July 10, 2026, contained three used vehicles a 2015 Red Nissan Micra, a 2019 Black Toyota Corolla S, and a 2015 Gray Toyota Corolla.
Customs said four bags of Cannabis Indica were concealed inside the Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden beneath the container floor and in spaces between the vehicles. No illicit substances were found inside the two Toyota Corolla vehicles.
Speaking on the seizure, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the interception as another demonstration of the Command’s commitment to combating the importation of prohibited items capable of endangering public health, safety and national security.
He said the operation aligned with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, against illicit trade at Nigeria’s ports.
Oshoba reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to facilitate legitimate trade while enforcing the law against the importation of prohibited and restricted goods. He also commended officers involved in the operation for their diligence and professionalism.
“This seizure once again demonstrates our untiring commitment to ensuring that only lawful trade thrives at Apapa Port. As we intensify investigations, I want to reiterate that this command has made the port a no-go area for anything prohibited by our laws,” he said.
The Customs boss also assured compliant traders of continued access to trade facilitation incentives introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs.
He subsequently ordered the seizure of the 40-foot container in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other extant laws, while investigations into the importation are ongoing.
