Felix Kumuyi
Maintaining High Intelligence Profile, Apapa Customs Crushes Smuggling Syndicates, Intercepts ₦43.59Bn Contraband, 7.6tons Cannabis, Narcotics, Drones, others
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, CG of Customs
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has delivered a major blow to international smuggling syndicates, seizing illicit consignments valued at ₦43,588,618,859.00 at the Apapa Area Command.
The intercepted cargo includes over 7.6 tonnes of cannabis sativa, about 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup, military-grade drones, and hazardous expired household goods.
Comptroller EAO Oshoba, CAC, Apapa Area 1 Command, NCS
Speaking during the press briefing at the port, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, described the seizures as the result of enhanced, intelligence-led targeting rather than routine checks.
”Concealment is now built into otherwise legitimate consignments,” Adeniyi stated. “Narcotics are packed among vehicle spare parts… Controlled drugs travel beneath household goods. Restricted equipment is declared as ordinary electronics.”
Breakdown of Intercepted Cargo
The seizures, spanning 13 major container units, presented three primary threats to national well-being: narcotics, security hazards, and public health risks.
Among the items seized were three containers carrying 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing over 7.6 tonnes (7,624 kg), cleverly concealed alongside auto spare parts, foreign parboiled rice, lithium batteries, and dried fish. Officers also intercepted a 40ft container holding 1,700 cartons of codeine syrup—totalling 169,998 bottles—hidden beneath everyday household goods.
On security risks, authorities extracted 108 units of high-definition dual-camera drones imported without the required End-User Certificates or security clearances. Adeniyi emphasized that while drones have legitimate uses, untracked high-definition units pose severe national security threats if deployed for unauthorized surveillance by criminal groups.
Public health concerns were equally highlighted by the seizure of five full containers carrying expired consumer items, including vaginal tablets, tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, and disposable baby nappies, all intended for sale to unsuspecting consumers. Additionally, officers impounded 1,282 bales of used clothing stacked across three separate 40ft containers.
Speaking further, the Comptroller-General attributed the success to recent technological upgrades and cross-agency intelligence sharing. Key drivers behind the operation include:
B’Odogwu Platform Deployment: Enhanced trade data processing to flag high-risk cargo profiling.
INTERPOL Data Centre Integration: Access to over 152 international databases via the newly established center at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.
Inter-Agency Synergy: Strategic collaboration with the NDLEA, NAFDAC, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and international security partners.
Adeniyi however urged importers to embrace compliance through the Service’s Advance Ruling mechanism and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) program to ensure seamless trade, warning that non-compliant operators will find no safe haven across Nigerian borders.
All seized narcotics and regulated items were transferred to relevant law enforcement agencies including NDLEA for final destruction and legal prosecution.
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