The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, recently intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Canadian Loud,” and seized two containers of expired pharmaceutical products in separate intelligence-led operations aimed at combating illicit trade and protecting public health.
The seizures, announced by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, underscore the Command’s intensified efforts to tackle transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, and economic sabotage through intelligence gathering and advanced risk assessment techniques.
According to the Command, officers working in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a 40-foot container with registration number CAAU7569127 on June 15, 2026. The container was found to contain 3,639 sachets of Cannabis Sativa, each weighing 500 grams, bringing the total weight of the illicit substance to approximately 1,819 kilograms.
Customs officials disclosed that the drugs were concealed inside a black Toyota Nissan vehicle and a Toyota Sienna, alongside several bags and drums loaded within the container. Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa.
The Command described the operation as a major success in disrupting sophisticated smuggling networks seeking to exploit Nigeria’s maritime gateways for criminal activities.
In a related development, Customs officers intercepted two additional 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products illegally imported into the country.
One of the containers, bearing number PCIU8771576, contained expired medical products including Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection and Becoline B-Complex Injection.
The second container, numbered MRKU4961275, was found to contain expired Oxytocin Injections, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets and Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.
Investigations revealed that the pharmaceutical products had expiry dates ranging from 2021 to 2023 and were allegedly intended for relabelling before being reintroduced into the Nigerian market.
Customs authorities warned that the illegal importation of such products posed serious health risks to consumers and could have endangered lives if allowed to circulate through hospitals, pharmacies and other distribution channels.
The Command stated that the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized drugs and expired pharmaceuticals stood at ₦12.78 billion, describing the attempted importation as a significant threat to national security, public health and the economy.
Speaking on the seizures, Comptroller Oshoba warned smugglers, drug traffickers and importers of prohibited items to desist from criminal activities, stressing that the Service possesses the intelligence capabilities and technological tools required to identify and apprehend offenders.
He stated that individuals involved in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals were enemies of the nation’s progress and would face swift and decisive consequences.
The Customs boss further emphasized that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance, assuring Nigerians that officers of the Command would continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations to safeguard public health, facilitate legitimate trade and uphold national security.
The Command attributed the successful interceptions to effective intelligence gathering, strategic profiling, data analysis and collaboration with relevant security and regulatory agencies, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda while ensuring strict enforcement against illegal trade.
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