The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Apapa Port Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle at the Apapa Port, Lagos.
The seizure was made during a joint examination of a single import consignment containing four vehicles, where the illicit drugs were discovered hidden in 13 bags inside one of the vehicles.
A detailed weighing revealed that the consignment comprised ten bags of 25kg each, one bag of 29kg, and two bags weighing 34.5kg and 34kg respectively, bringing the total to 347.5kg.
The interception occurred less than 24 hours after the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, received a World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit, further underscoring the command’s intensified anti-smuggling posture.
This development marks the fourth major drug interception jointly recorded by the NCS and NDLEA at Apapa Port in under two months, reinforcing the command’s resolve that no cargo, whether imported or exported, will pass through the port without thorough examination.
Reacting to the seizure, Comptroller Oshoba warned smugglers and criminal syndicates that Apapa Port is no longer a safe route for trafficking prohibited items. He reaffirmed the command’s vigilance and commitment to protecting society and national security through effective enforcement.
The operation also reflects the strengthened inter-agency collaboration championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, with intelligence sharing and joint operations enabling both agencies to consistently disrupt smuggling networks within the maritime sector.
Comptroller Oshoba noted that the successful interception was a direct outcome of this collaboration and disclosed that the planned deployment of a high-capacity drive-through scanner with the capacity to scan 200 containers per hour would further enhance technology-driven anti-smuggling operations at the port.
In line with established procedures, the seized drugs have been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects connected to the consignment.
The latest seizure builds on the recent recognition of Comptroller Oshoba and the NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander, Mohammed Tukur, both of whom were awarded the WCO Certificate of Merit on Monday, January 26, 2026, in Abuja, during activities marking the International Customs Day celebrations in Nigeria.
The interception aligns with the 2026 International Customs Day theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment,” as the Apapa Port Command reiterates its dedication to facilitating legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to curb illicit activities and safeguard the public.
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