A sweeping crackdown at the Apapa Port has led to the seizure of 16 containers containing firearms, illicit drugs, expired foods, and other prohibited items, with a total value estimated at over N10 billion. The announcement was made at a press briefing held at APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos.

In what authorities described as one of the most significant interceptions this year, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed the concentration of contraband concealed within the port’s cargo. The joint operation, conducted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), targeted a range of goods that violated trade and safety regulations.

Key highlights from the briefing include:

• A standout discovery involved a 40-foot container (MRSU6407089) that, after an initial clean declaration, was subjected to a routine joint search. Inside were 202 cans of Colorado Loud, a Canadian drug, totalling about 101 kilograms.
• Hidden within the same or nearby consignments were several weapons, including two pump-action rifles and a Smith & Wesson pistol, along with associated ammunition. The consignee for this shipment was identified as Babatunde Ogidiolu.
• Additional seizures spanned multiple categories:
  • Seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medicaments.
  • Three containers of expired margarine.
  • Three containers of used clothing.
  • Two containers carrying a combined 2,580 sacks of frozen poultry.
  • A container of toothpaste reportedly infringing on a Nigerian company’s intellectual property rights, and lacking NAFDAC registration.
  • Two containers of expired chest and lung tablets without NAFDAC registration.
  • Two containers of codeine, with intelligence suggesting links to prior drug-related seizures.
• In total, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the seizures; three suspects have been charged and remanded in Ikoyi prison, while the remaining two are on administrative bail.
• Adeniyi emphasised ongoing collaboration with local and international partners to dismantle criminal networks and prevent Nigeria from becoming a hub for illicit activities.

• The Nigerian authorities’ swift action underscores a renewed commitment to cracking down on illegal trade, contraband, and drug trafficking at major entry points.
• The mix of firearms, controlled substances, expired goods, and counterfeit or IP-infringing items highlights the breadth of smuggling concerns, spanning public safety, health, and intellectual property rights.
• Legal processes will determine the fate of the suspects and the seized goods, while ongoing investigations may reveal broader networks and routes used for illicit shipments.

• Expect official updates from the NCS and NDLEA as cases proceed through the courts and as further investigations identify associates and supply chains.
• Observers will be watching for enhancements in port controls, risk-based screening, and cross-agency coordination aimed at tightening import/export compliance and reducing the risk of similar seizures.