Customs Seize ₦26.57bn Cannabis Hidden in Imported Vehicles at Apapa Port

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted Cannabis Indica valued at ₦26.57 billion concealed inside a container loaded with imported used vehicles at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

The illicit consignment, weighing 4,143.5 kilograms, was uncovered during a joint examination by officers of the Apapa Area Command and personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following credible intelligence.

The seizure was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Customs Public Relations Officer of the Apapa Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.

According to the statement, Comptroller Oshoba directed that a 40-foot container (No. FANU1933352) be subjected to a thorough examination, leading to the discovery of 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica on July 10, 2026.

The statement explained that the container also carried three used vehicles—a 2015 red Nissan Micra, a 2019 black Toyota Corolla S, and a 2015 grey Toyota Corolla.

It added that four bags of the illicit substance were concealed inside the Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden on the floor of the container and in spaces between the vehicles. No prohibited substance was found inside the two Toyota Corolla vehicles.

Speaking on the interception, Comptroller Oshoba said the seizure underscored the Command’s commitment to preventing prohibited items from entering the country through the nation’s busiest seaport.

“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 anything forbidden by our laws,” he said.

The Customs Area Controller also assured compliant importers and exporters of continued support through trade facilitation measures introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

“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,” Oshoba added.

He noted that the interception reflects the Nigeria Customs Service’s zero-tolerance stance against illicit trade and reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to facilitate legitimate commerce while enforcing the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The statement added that Comptroller Oshoba had ordered the seizure of the container in line with the provisions of the Act and other extant laws, while investigations into the shipment are ongoing.