Apapa Customs seizes 1.8 tonnes of cannabis, expired drugs worth N12.8bn

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Canadian Loud,” and seized two containers of expired pharmaceutical products with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.78 billion.

The seizures, described as a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking and illicit trade, were made through intelligence-led operations conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman, said officers intercepted a 40-foot container carrying 3,639 sachets of Cannabis Sativa weighing about 1,819 kilograms.

The illicit drugs, according to Customs, were concealed inside a vehicle and hidden among bags and drums in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

The Command also uncovered two 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products allegedly destined for relabelling and circulation in the Nigerian market.

Items recovered from the containers included capsules, injections, eye drops and other medical products whose expiry dates ranged between 2021 and 2023.

Customs authorities warned that the products could have posed serious health risks if allowed to enter circulation.

Speaking on the seizures, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the Service would continue to deploy intelligence and technology to combat smuggling and other criminal activities at the nation’s ports.

“Unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress,” Oshoba said.

Ko”We have the intelligence, the technology and the resolve to identify and apprehend them. Anyone contemplating these criminal acts should desist because the consequences will be swift and decisive.”

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting public health, facilitating legitimate trade and safeguarding the nation’s economy and security.

The Command said the latest interceptions underscore its determination to prevent Nigeria’s ports from being used as channels for drug trafficking, economic sabotage and the importation of harmful products.