The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday disclosed the seizure of 16 containers laden with arms, ammunition, pharmaceuticals and other products at Apapa port.The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made the disclosure during a press briefing in Lagos.
Adeniyi said that the 14 of the 16 containers were laden with prohibited drugs, expired medicament, expired food, and other items that run foul of Nigeria’s import prohibition guidelines, including arms and ammunition.
Speaking about the smuggled items, the CGC said the items would have “a harmful effect on the health and wellbeing of unsuspecting Nigerians who would have consumed them, in addition to causing insecurity in the country.”
He expressed regret that despite the campaigns against these kinds of importation backed with seizures and arrests, merchants of death have chosen Apapa Port as an entry point for prohibited items.
Disclosing that the duty paid value of the seized items was N10bn, Adeniyi said: “The Duty Paid Value of the seized items is N N10,273,694,595.00 (Ten billion, two hundred and seventy-three million, six hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and ninety-five naira only).”
Part of the speech from Adeniyi reads, “Despite our campaigns against these kinds of importation backed with seizures and arrests, the people I call merchants of death have chosen Apapa Port as an entry point for prohibited items. As usual, they failed to pull through.
“We are resolute to confront these people who do not mean well for Nigerians and the economy by ensuring our entry points are not used for their unlawful acts.
“Our operatives in Apapa Port with the support of our internal intelligence and sister government agencies have seized three (3)containers of expired margarine, three (3) containers of used clothes and five (5) containers carrying expired drugs, prohibited medicament and colorado hemp.
“On July 24, 2025, during a joint physical examination with the NDLEA,a 1x40ft container number MRSU 6407089 was found to contain 202cans of Colorado Loud la specie of cannabis from Canada) with each can weighing 500 grams totaling 101Kg.
“Also,inside the same container, we uncovered 2 pump action rifles,25 cartridges of ammunition, 1 Smith & Wesson Pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, 1 blank, and other accessories.
“Confirming a case of false declaration and attempting to circumvent our processes, the system bill of laden listed the items of import as 3Toyota Sienna and 1 Toyota Camry vehicles with the consignee as Babatunde Ogidiolu Samuel.
“Consequently, two suspects, the agent, one Mr. Modi Azuka of No.1Miracle Street, Ago Palace Way, and another suspect identified as Mrs.Lisa Akpedeme have been arrested and detained in connection with the Canadian Loud and weapons.They are currently undergoing interrogation.
“We also seized container number OERU 4243517 (40FT) found to contain 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken breast and another FBIU 5507953found to contain (40FT)1,290 sacks of frozen chicken breast.
“In a related development, another seized container number ZCSU 7277511 (40FT)
was found to contain 305 cartons of toothpaste without NAFDAC Registration number, cartons of slippers concealed in 46 cartons of beads,40 cartons of Jalabiya,amongst others.
“Furthermore, just this morning, operatives at the Apapa port intercepted two containers (1x40ft and 1x20ft) carrying 2,401 cartons of codeine syrup.
“We also have another two suspects in connection with two containers of smuggled frozen poultry products.
“For the arms, ammunition and drugs, the two suspects shall be handed over to the NDLEA and DSS for further investigation and prosecution while the other two held for the poultry products shall be handed over to NAFDAC.
“In a separate development, container number CAIU 4979294 1x40was found to contain CSP codeine syrup; another 1×40 container number MRKU 3738603 was found to contain 1,100 cartons of expired chest and lungs tablets without NAFDAC number.
“Similarly, we also have seven other seizures comprising three containers of expired margárine and two used clothing; a 1x20container was laden with 540 cartons of expired feed and cyprophetadine tablets without NAFDAC number.
“The Duty Paid Value of the seized items is N N10,273,694,595.00 (Ten billion, two hundred and seventy-three million, six hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and ninety-five naira only).
“Our vow to protect the national economy, the well-being of citizens and residents of Nigeria remains unshaken.
“Let me once again warn that the NCS, with the support of our strategic partners, will keep delivering uncompromising enforcement backed by intelligence to detect and seize prohibited items.
“Therefore, perpetrators of these unlawful acts and their collaborators will also not be spared boy the long arms of the law whenever our investigation gives clue about their complicity in these criminal activities
“Criminal elements who are determined to make our country a hub for destructive substances will always have our operatives to contend with. For us, this is a full-scale resistance and arrest session for them, and we are not ready to give up on this. We will run them out of business into jail.”
