The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has intercepted 400 kilogrammes of suspected Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Loud,” with an estimated Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦2.26 billion at Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lagos.
The seized consignment was formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday, October 15, 2026, for further investigation and necessary action.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, said the interception followed credible and actionable intelligence received by the Command on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Kukoyi explained that officers intercepted container number PRSU1562064, which was scheduled for onward movement by barge to a bonded terminal outside the Command under the Customs transire procedure.
He said the container was flagged for further scrutiny because of potential security concerns and subjected to non-intrusive scanning, which revealed anomalies that warranted a comprehensive physical examination.
Customs Acting Area Comptroller Lagos Free Trade Zone DC Olufemi Kukoyi
According to him, a joint examination involving the NCS, NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) uncovered 400 packages of suspected cannabis weighing 400 kilogrammes, concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing paper.
The seized drugs were valued at ₦2,262,960,000, according to the Customs Command.
Kukoyi described the interception as a significant victory for public safety and national security, stressing that intelligence-led enforcement, modern Customs technology and inter-agency collaboration were critical to preventing illicit substances from entering circulation.
Seized cannabis sativa checked by the NDLEA
He commended the officers involved in the operation and acknowledged the cooperation of the NDLEA, DSS, NAFDAC and Lekki Freeport Terminal management.
The Acting Controller also praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for strengthening the Service’s operational capacity through collaboration, innovation and intelligence-driven enforcement.
He reiterated that the Customs Service remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining zero tolerance for smuggling, drug trafficking and other forms of economic sabotage.
“Our ports must remain gateways to economic
Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, Jonah Achema speaking at the press briefing
prosperity, not corridors for criminality,” Kukoyi said, urging port operators, shipping companies, clearing agents, importers and members of the public to support security agencies with credible information.
In his remarks, the Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, Jonah Achema, commended the Customs Command and other sister agencies for their collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking.
Achema congratulated Kukoyi on his appointment as Acting Customs Area Controller, describing the interception, recorded shortly after his assumption of office, as a strong indication of his commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation and counter-narcotics operations.
He said the 400-kilogramme seizure was significant and recalled previous interceptions at the port, including two containers of illicit pharmaceutical opioids weighing a combined 46 tonnes, with an estimated street value of ₦35 billion.
According to Achema, the latest operation reflected the NDLEA’s commitment, under its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd.), to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks.
He added that the container had initially been scheduled to leave the port but was stopped for a 100 per cent examination following credible intelligence.
Achema assured Customs and other security agencies that the NDLEA would sustain its collaboration with them to prevent criminal networks from exploiting Nigeria’s maritime corridors for illicit drug shipments.
The handover underscores the continued cooperation between the Customs Service and the NDLEA in combating drug trafficking and strengthening security at Nigeria’s seaports.
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