By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 12 containers containing narcotics, controlled pharmaceutical products, security-sensitive equipment, expired goods and other prohibited items with a combined duty paid value of ₦43.5 billion.
The consignments were intercepted at the APM Terminals examination bay at Apapa Port, Lagos.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, September 10, 2026, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale deniyi , said the seizures underscored the Service’s growing role in protecting Nigeria’s borders and supply chain.
Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 mandates the Service to perform responsibilities beyond revenue collection and trade facilitation, including preventing dangerous and prohibited goods from entering the country.
The intercepted consignments fell into three broad categories: narcotics and controlled pharmaceuticals, security-sensitive equipment, and expired goods intended for human use.
Among the major seizures were 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg, equivalent to about 7.6 tonnes. The cannabis was concealed in cartons, bags and drums.
Customs officers also intercepted 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup hidden underneath household items.
In another major discovery, the Service recovered 108 high-definition dual-camera drones, which were classified as security-sensitive equipment.
The containers also contained expired products, including tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets, disposable nappies and other consumables.
Customs further intercepted 1,282 bales of used clothing across multiple containers.
Other seized items included foreign parboiled rice, automobile spare parts, lithium batteries, turmeric, mangala fish, butterfly fish and assorted consumer goods.
The Comptroller General attributed the seizures to improved cargo profiling, intelligence gathering and risk assessment by the Service.
He said Customs had strengthened its technological capacity through the B’Odogwu platform, which integrates trade data and enhances the Service’s ability to identify suspicious consignments.
Adeniyi also disclosed that the Service established an INTERPOL Data Centre at its Abuja headquarters in July, providing Customs officers access to more than 152 international databases.
He said the facility is one of only eight in Africa and would strengthen the capacity of the Service to identify suspicious shipments and individuals linked to transnational crimes.
The Comptroller General also highlighted the importance of collaboration between Customs and other government agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and international partners.
He commended officers of the Apapa Area Command for their vigilance and professionalism, while appreciating the NDLEA, NAFDAC and other local and international partners for their continued cooperation in the fight against illicit trade, drug trafficking and transnational crime.
