The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted a shipment of Cannabis Indica valued at ₦26.57 billion concealed inside a container carrying imported used vehicles at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure, made in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), involved 4,143.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica concealed in a 40-foot container during a joint examination by officers of the two agencies.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, the seizure followed credible intelligence that prompted the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, to order a thorough examination of container number FANU1933352.
The examination, conducted on July 10, 2026, revealed three used vehicles in the container—a red 2015 Nissan Micra, a black 2019 Toyota Corolla S, and a grey 2015 Toyota Corolla. Further inspection uncovered 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, with each parcel weighing 500 grams.
Customs said four of the bags were hidden inside the red Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were concealed beneath the container floor and in the spaces between the three vehicles. No illicit substances were found inside the two Toyota Corolla vehicles.
The Command placed the estimated street value of the seized narcotics at ₦26,569,847,771.
Speaking on the development, Comptroller Oshoba said the interception underscores the Command’s commitment to combating the importation of prohibited goods and protecting public health, safety and national security.
He noted that the seizure aligns with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, against illicit trade through the nation’s seaports.
“This seizure once again demonstrates our untiring commitment to ensuring that only lawful trade thrives in Apapa Port. As we intensify investigations into the matter, I want to reiterate that this Command has made the port a no-go area for anything prohibited by our laws,” Oshoba said.
He also reassured compliant importers and traders of the Command’s continued commitment to trade facilitation, stressing that legitimate businesses would continue to enjoy incentives introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Customs Area Controller has ordered the seizure of the container in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other applicable laws, while investigations into the attempted importation continue.
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