The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted Cannabis Indica valued at ₦26,569,847,771, concealed inside a 40-foot container carrying imported used vehicles at the Lagos port.
The seizure, weighing 4,143.5 kilogrammes, was made during a joint examination by officers of the Apapa Command and personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), following credible intelligence.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, directed that the 1×40ft container number FANU1933352 be subjected to thorough examination, leading to the discovery on Friday, 10 July 2026.
According to the statement, the container was found to contain three used vehicles comprising a red Nissan Micra (2015 model), a black Toyota Corolla S (2019 model) and a grey Toyota Corolla (2015 model).
A detailed search uncovered 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, with each parcel weighing 500 grammes.
Sulaiman explained that four bags of the illicit substance were concealed inside the red Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden on the floor of the container and in the spaces between the three vehicles.
He added that no illicit substances were found inside the black Toyota Corolla S or the grey Toyota Corolla.
Speaking on the seizure, Comptroller Oshoba said it underscored the Apapa Command’s vigilance and determination to intercept prohibited items, especially illicit drugs capable of endangering public health, safety and national security.
He noted that the operation was in line with the zero-tolerance directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, against all forms of illicit trade at the nation’s seaports.
The Area Controller also reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while strictly enforcing the law against the importation of prohibited and restricted goods, commending officers involved in the operation for their diligence and professionalism.
He said: “This seizure once again demonstrates our untiring commitment in ensuring that only lawful trade thrives in Apapa Port. As we intensify investigation into the matter, I want to reiterate that this command has made the port a no go area for any thing forbidden by our laws.
“Let me use this opportunity to rebuild the confidence of our compliant traders and assure them once again that they would always enjoy the many trade facilitation incentives emplaced by the Comptroller General of Customs” He concluded
The Command said Comptroller Oshoba had ordered the seizure of the 40-foot container in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other extant laws, while investigations into the importation continue.
