The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Canadian Loud,” and seized two containers of expired pharmaceutical products with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.78 billion in a series of intelligence-led operations.
The seizures, which were carried out in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security and regulatory agencies, underscore the Command’s intensified efforts to combat transnational organised crime, illicit trade, and threats to public health and national security.
According to the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, the interception followed credible intelligence and the deployment of advanced risk assessment tools by officers of the Command.
He disclosed that on June 15, 2026, Customs operatives intercepted a 40-foot container, numbered CAAU7569127, conveying a large consignment of Cannabis Sativa concealed inside vehicles, bags, and drums.
The seizure comprised 3,639 sachets of the illicit substance, each weighing 500 grams, bringing the total weight to approximately 1,819 kilograms. Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa.
“The drugs were cleverly concealed inside a black Toyota Nissan vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, along with several bags and drums loaded inside the container,” Oshoba said.
He noted that the successful operation highlighted the Command’s growing capacity to identify and dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks attempting to exploit the nation’s seaports.
In a related operation, the Command intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products allegedly imported into the country for relabelling and reintroduction into the market.
One of the containers, with number PCIU8771576, contained expired products including Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection, and Becoline B-Complex Injection.
The second container, numbered MRKU4961275, was found to contain expired medical products such as Oxytocin Injection, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets, and Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.
Customs officials revealed that the products had expiry dates ranging from 2021 to 2023 and posed significant health risks to consumers if allowed into circulation.
Oshoba said the seizures prevented potentially harmful and ineffective medications from finding their way into hospitals, pharmacies, and homes across the country.
He described the attempted importation of the expired drugs as economic sabotage and a serious threat to public health.
“The combined Duty Paid Value of the seized items is N12.78 billion. This substantial seizure highlights the scale of the attempted economic sabotage and underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to protecting national security, public health, and the Nigerian economy through intelligence-driven enforcement operations,” he said.
The CAC warned importers and their collaborators against engaging in smuggling, drug trafficking, and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals.
“Unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress. We have the intelligence, the technology and the resolve to identify and apprehend them,” he stated.
He further stressed that Apapa Port would not be allowed to serve as a conduit for criminal activities, assuring Nigerians that the Command remains committed to intensifying intelligence-driven operations to safeguard legitimate trade, protect lives, and strengthen national security.
According to Oshoba, the Command’s enforcement strategy is anchored on intelligence gathering, strategic profiling, data analysis, and strong collaboration with relevant stakeholders while ensuring seamless facilitation of legitimate trade in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda.
