The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have struck again at Apapa Port, Lagos. In a coordinated operation, the joint security forces seized 347.5kg of ‘Canadian Loud’—a potent variety of cannabis—stashed inside 13 bags within an imported Toyota Sienna. This latest drug bust highlights the intensifying crackdown on narcotics smuggling at Nigeria’s busiest gateway.
The seizure, according to a statement released in Lagos on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Isah Sulaiman, occurred barely 24 hours after the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, received a World Customs Organization (wco) certificate of merit on Monday, 26 January 2026
However, the statement further detailed the weight breakdown as follows: 10 bags (25kg each), 1 bag (29kg), and 2 bags (34.5kg and 34kg), bringing the total to 347.5kg. This successful interception—the fourth in under two months—serves as a testament to the intensified synergy between the NCS and NDLEA. It further solidifies Comptroller Oshoba’s commitment to a ‘zero-leakage’ policy, ensuring that all cargo is subjected to thorough examination
In a stern warning to traffickers, Comptroller Oshoba stated: ‘Any attempt by criminal elements to move prohibited items through Apapa Port will be detected and thwarted. We remain vigilant and resolute in our duty to safeguard society and uphold national security.
“The operation highlights the exemplary inter-agency collaboration championed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD. Through intelligence sharing and joint efforts, NCS and NDLEA officers have consistently outmanoeuvred smuggling networks in Nigeria’s maritime sector.”
Comptroller Oshoba attributed the seizure to the bolstered synergy between the two agencies, noting that the upcoming deployment of a high-capacity, drive-through scanner—capable of screening 200 containers per hour—will revolutionize technology-driven anti-smuggling efforts at the port. This latest victory further validates the recent honors bestowed upon Comptroller Oshoba and the NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander, Mohammed Tukur. Both were awarded the WCO Certificate of Merit on Monday, 26 January 2026, in Abuja, during the International Customs Day celebrations.
“This interception aligns with the 2026 ICD theme: ‘Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment.’
“The CAC reaffirms the Command’s dedication to facilitating legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to disrupt illicit activities and safeguard society”, the statement concluded.
