The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted Cannabis Indica with an estimated street value of ₦26.57 billion concealed inside a container of imported used vehicles at Apapa Port in Lagos, in what officials have described as another significant blow to drug trafficking through the nation’s seaports.
The seizure followed intelligence-led surveillance jointly conducted by the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), culminating in a thorough examination of a 40-foot container, numbered FANU1933352, at the Command’s Enforcement Unit. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed that the operation, carried out on 10 July 2026, uncovered 4,143.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis Indica hidden among three imported used vehicles.
He said the container carried a 2015 red Nissan Micra, a 2019 black Toyota Corolla S and a 2015 grey Toyota Corolla. A comprehensive inspection uncovered 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, each weighing 500 grammes. According to Oshoba, four bags were concealed inside the Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden beneath the container’s floor and in the spaces between the vehicles.
No illicit substance was found in either of the Toyota Corolla cars. He described the seizure as further proof of the Command’s resolve to protect the country from the dangers posed by prohibited imports and illicit drugs, noting that the operation reflects the Nigeria Customs Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s, zero-tolerance stance on smuggling.
“This seizure once again demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that only lawful trade thrives at Apapa Port. As investigations continue, I wish to reiterate that this Command has made the port a no-go area for anything prohibited under our laws,” Oshoba said.
He said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend those behind the attempted importation.