The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Port Command, in a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a high-grade strain of cannabis, concealed inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle at the Apapa seaport.
The seizure was made less than 24 hours after the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, received a World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit, highlighting the command’s heightened vigilance against illicit trade.
According to Customs, the illicit drugs were hidden in 13 bags inside one of four vehicles contained in a single import consignment. A breakdown of the haul showed ten bags weighing 25kg each, one bag weighing 29kg, and two bags weighing 34.5kg and 34kg respectively, bringing the total to 347.5kg.
This is the fourth major drug interception recorded through joint operations by NCS and NDLEA at Apapa Port in under two months, underscoring the command’s renewed commitment to subjecting all cargo — both imports and exports — to rigorous inspection.
Reacting to the development, Comptroller Oshoba warned smugglers to steer clear of Apapa Port, stressing that the command remains uncompromising in its enforcement mandate.
“Any attempt by criminal elements to traffic prohibited items through Apapa Port will be detected and thwarted. We remain vigilant and resolute in the discharge of our duty to protect society and national security,” he said.
He attributed the success to strengthened inter-agency collaboration championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, noting that intelligence sharing between NCS and NDLEA has significantly disrupted smuggling networks within the maritime sector.
Oshoba further disclosed that the planned deployment of a high-capacity drive-through scanner with the ability to scan 200 containers per hour will further boost technology-driven anti-smuggling operations at the port.
In line with established protocols, the seized 347.5kg of Canadian Loud has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects linked to the consignment.
The latest interception also comes on the heels of the WCO Certificate of Merit awarded to Comptroller Oshoba and NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander, Mohammed Tukur, on Monday, 26January 2026, in Abuja, as part of activities marking the International Customs Day (ICD).
The seizure aligns with the 2026 ICD theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment,” reinforcing the Apapa Command’s pledge to facilitate legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to curb illicit activities and safeguard national security.
