(Cannabis Shipment Hidden in Vehicles. Photo Credit: Leadership News)
The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has intercepted a shipment of Cannabis Indica with a Duty Paid Value of ₦26.57 billion concealed among imported used vehicles at the Apapa Port, reaffirming its commitment to tackling illicit trade through Nigeria’s seaports.
The seizure, made in a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, involved 4,143.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica hidden inside a 40-foot container alongside three imported vehicles.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Customs Public Relations Officer of the Command, CSC Isah Sulaiman, the seizure followed credible intelligence that prompted the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, to order a comprehensive examination of the container.
The statement said the container, with registration number FANU1933352, was subjected to detailed inspection on July 10, 2026, leading to the discovery of 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, with each parcel weighing 500 grams.
The illicit consignment was concealed alongside a 2015 red Nissan Micra, a 2019 black Toyota Corolla S, and a 2015 grey Toyota Corolla.
Customs said four bags of cannabis were hidden inside the Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were carefully concealed on the floor of the container and in the spaces between the vehicles.
No narcotics were found inside the two Toyota Corolla vehicles.
Speaking on the seizure, Oshoba said the interception underscores the command’s resolve to prevent prohibited items from entering the country through the nation’s busiest seaport, describing the operation as further proof of the command’s commitment to ensuring that only lawful trade thrives at Apapa Port.
He reiterated that the command has made the port a no-go area for anything forbidden under Nigerian law.
Giving a breakdown of the seizure, he explained that four bags were found concealed inside the red Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were recovered from the floor of the container and the spaces between the three vehicles, adding that no illicit substances were found in either the black Toyota Corolla S or the grey Toyota Corolla.
He noted that the operation aligns with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, against smuggling and other forms of illicit trade, and reassured legitimate importers of the command’s continued support for compliant businesses, stressing that traders operating within the law would continue to enjoy the trade facilitation incentives put in place by the Comptroller-General.
The Customs Area Controller commended officers of the Apapa Command and personnel of the NDLEA for their professionalism and vigilance, stressing that the partnership between both agencies continues to strengthen efforts to combat drug tr@fficking and safeguard national security.
He subsequently ordered the seizure of the container in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, while investigations into the attempted smuggling continue.
