The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 1.8 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa (“Canadian Loud”) and two containers of expired pharmaceutical products at Apapa Port. The combined Duty Paid Value of the seizures is \u20a612.78 billion.<\/p>\n
Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba announced on June 15, 2026. He said the seizures were intelligence-led operations carried out in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies.<\/p>\n
A 40-foot container (No. CAAU7569127) was flagged based on credible intelligence and risk assessment. Inside, officers found 3,639 sachets of Cannabis Sativa, each weighing 500 grams \u2014 totalling 1,819kg (1.81 tonnes). The drugs were hidden inside a Toyota Sienna, a Nissan, and several bags and drums to avoid detection. Laboratory tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa.<\/p>\n
“The interception shows our growing capacity to detect and stop sophisticated smuggling at Nigeria’s busiest seaport,” Oshoba said.<\/p>\n
In a separate operation, officers intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with expired medicines meant for illegal distribution.<\/p>\n
Container No. PCIU8771576 contained expired Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection, and Becoline B-Complex Injection.<\/p>\n
Container No. MRKU4961276 held expired Oxytocin Injections, Methylcellulose Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets, and Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets, among others.<\/p>\n
The drugs expired between 2021 and 2023 and were allegedly to be relabelled before hitting the market. Customs warned that the expired medicines posed serious health risks and could endanger lives if they reached hospitals, pharmacies, and homes.<\/p>\n
Oshoba described the seizures as a major blow to criminal networks and warned those involved in smuggling, drug trafficking, and expired medicine imports to stop.<\/p>\n
“These illegal acts are economic sabotage and a threat to public health,” he said. “We have the intelligence, technology, and resolve to track and arrest those involved. Apapa Port will not be used for such crimes.”<\/p>\n
He added that Apapa Port and other Customs-controlled areas remain under surveillance, and the Command will sustain intelligence-driven operations to protect lives and secure legitimate trade.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 1.8 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa (“Canadian Loud”) and two containers of expired pharmaceutical products at Apapa Port. The combined Duty Paid Value of the...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t