The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Port Command, in a joint operation 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 less than 24 hours after the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, received the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit, underscoring the Command’s heightened operational vigilance. The illicit drugs were discovered hidden in 13 bags inside one of four vehicles contained in a single import consignment.
A detailed examination and weighing revealed the consignment comprised ten bags weighing 25kg each, one bag of 29kg, and two bags weighing 34.5kg and 34kg respectively, bringing the total to 347.5kg.
This interception represents the fourth major joint drug seizure by the NCS and NDLEA at Apapa Port within the last two months, reinforcing Comptroller Oshoba’s resolve that no import or export cargo will transit the port without thorough examination.
Reacting to the development, Comptroller Oshoba warned criminal elements against using Apapa Port for illicit activities, stressing that all attempts to traffic prohibited items would be detected and foiled. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting society and safeguarding national security.
The operation further highlights the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration promoted by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD. Through intelligence sharing and coordinated operations, officers of the NCS and NDLEA have continued to disrupt smuggling networks within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Comptroller Oshoba noted that the seizure was a direct outcome of the strengthened partnership between both agencies and disclosed that the planned deployment of a high-capacity drive-through scanner capable of scanning 200 containers per hour would significantly boost technology-driven anti-smuggling operations at the port.
In line with established Standard Operating Procedures, the seized 347.5kg of Canadian Loud has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects linked to the consignment.
The latest interception builds on the recognition recently accorded to Comptroller Oshoba and the NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander, Mohammed Tukur, who both received the WCO Certificate of Merit on Monday, 26 January 2026, in Abuja, during activities marking the International Customs Day celebrations in Nigeria.
The seizure aligns with the 2026 International Customs Day theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment,” as the Apapa Port Command reaffirms its dedication to facilitating legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to combat illicit activities and protect the public.
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