The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has thwarted an attempt to smuggle expired pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market and intercepted 1.8 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa in separate intelligence-led operations conducted in collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies.
The seizures were disclosed in a statement issued on June 15, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman, who said the operations were driven by credible intelligence, enhanced risk assessment mechanisms, and inter-agency cooperation involving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant authorities.
According to the statement, one of the major interceptions involved a 40-foot container with registration number CAAU7569127, which was discovered to contain a substantial quantity of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Canadian Loud.”
Customs officers recovered 3,639 sachets of the illicit drug, each weighing 500 grams, with a combined weight of approximately 1,819 kilograms. Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa. The narcotics were concealed inside a vehicle and hidden among bags and drums packed within the container.
In a separate operation, the Command intercepted two 40-foot containers laden with expired pharmaceutical products allegedly intended for illegal relabelling and reintroduction into the Nigerian market.
The Command placed the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized pharmaceutical products at ₦12.78 billion, describing the attempted importation as a serious threat to public health and an act of economic sabotage.
Speaking on the seizures, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, warned individuals involved in smuggling, drug trafficking, and the importation of expired medicines to desist from such activities.
He stated that those engaged in criminal trade practices pose a significant threat to the nation’s economic growth, public safety, and national security, adding that the Service possesses the intelligence capabilities, technological resources, and operational resolve required to identify and apprehend offenders.
Oshoba further assured stakeholders that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance, stressing that enforcement operations would continue to be intelligence-driven while facilitating legitimate trade and commerce.
