Massive drug interception underscores renewed crackdown on illicit trade at Apapa Port

Barely five days after the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared Apapa Port off-limits to smugglers and criminal syndicates, the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded another major breakthrough with the seizure of codeine syrup worth ₦3.398 billion.
In a swift, intelligence-led operation carried out on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),

Customs officers intercepted two containers loaded with 3,398 cartons—equivalent to 339,800 bottles—of codeine-containing syrup. The illicit consignment was ingeniously concealed within household utensils.
According to details released by the Command, the seized items have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3,398,000,000. One of the containers, marked MRKU 3816476, contained 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of codeine syrup hidden among 38 cartons of insulated casserole products. The second container, TGBU 5399178, held 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles), similarly concealed within 36 cartons of casserole items.
Both containers have since been confiscated in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 (as amended).

Reacting to the development, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the seizure as a direct response to the CGC’s recent charge to intensify enforcement operations.
“This interception clearly demonstrates our commitment to the Comptroller-General’s directive. We remain fully aligned with the Service’s intelligence-driven strategy and will continue to make Apapa Port a hostile environment for smugglers and drug traffickers,” Oshoba stated.
He further commended the NDLEA for its effective collaboration, noting that inter-agency synergy remains critical in combating the smuggling of controlled substances.
The Apapa Command reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding public health, strengthening national security, and facilitating legitimate trade through enhanced surveillance, technology-driven operations, and a zero-tolerance stance on smuggling.