Nigerian Customs Seizes N43.59 Billion Worth of Narcotics, Drones and Expired Goods at Apapa Port
September 10, 2026 | News
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 12 containers carrying consignments valued at N43.59 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

The seized items include more than 7.6 tonnes of cannabis, nearly 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup, 108 high-definition drones, expired products and 1,282 bales of used clothing.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, announced the seizures during a briefing at the Apapa Area Command. He said the operation was part of the service’s intelligence-led efforts to prevent prohibited, dangerous and improperly declared goods from entering Nigeria.
Over 7.6 Tonnes of Cannabis Seized
Customs officials discovered 15,245 parcels of cannabis weighing 7,624kg in three 40-foot containers.
According to the NCS, the drugs were concealed among legitimate goods, including vehicle spare parts, food products, batteries, fish and other items.

Another container was found to contain 1,700 cartons of codeine syrup, amounting to 169,998 bottles. Customs said the syrup had been hidden beneath household items.
Adeniyi said the seizures were made possible through cargo profiling, risk assessment, documentary checks and targeted physical inspections.

He added that the Customs Service had strengthened its cooperation with 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 (ONSA) and international security partners.
Customs Intercepts 108 Drones

The operation also led to the interception of 108 high-definition dual-camera drones in another container.
Adeniyi said the drones were subjected to further scrutiny because of their potential security implications.
He explained that restricted and security-sensitive equipment must have the required government approvals, end-user certificates and other documentation before they can be cleared.
The Customs chief warned that consignments brought into the country without the necessary approvals would be detained.

Expired Products Discovered
Customs officials also discovered five containers containing expired products.
The items included tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.
The NCS said the products were intended for consumption, household use or direct application to the body.
Adeniyi warned that the importation of expired products could expose consumers to serious health risks, particularly as some of the items were intended for children, women and other members of the public.
Used C
In addition to the other seizures, Customs intercepted 1,282 bales of used clothing packed in three separate 40-foot containers.

The NCS said the discoveries were part of a wider enforcement operation targeting concealed, falsely declared and prohibited consignments at the port.
Customs Strengthens Intelligence-Based Enforcement
According to Adeniyi, the Nigeria Customs Service is increasingly relying on intelligence and risk-based targeting instead of depending mainly on random physical inspections.
He said the B’Odogwu platform had strengthened the service’s ability to profile cargo and identify high-risk shipments before they are physically examined.

The Customs Service has also expanded its access to international security information through an INTERPOL Data Centre established at its headquarters in Abuja.
Adeniyi said the centre provides access to more than 152 international databases and is the eighth INTERPOL data centre on the African continent

He noted that criminal networks were increasingly attempting to conceal prohibited goods within legitimate consignments and using false declarations to avoid detection.
The Customs chief warned importers and other port operators against concealing restricted goods, making false declarations or attempting to import prohibited products into Nigeria.
He urged importers to comply with regulatory requirements and seek clarification through the Customs Advance Ruling mechanism before shipping their goods.
The latest seizures highlight the expanding role of the Nigeria Customs Service beyond revenue collection. Under the Customs Service Act 2023, the agency is also responsible for border protection, supply-chain security and preventing dangerous goods from entering the country.