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LFTZ Customs Impounds 400kg Suspected Cannabis Sativa Worth ₦2.26bn at Lekki Port, Hands over to NDLEA
Exchange of Pleasantries during the Press Briefing
A suspicious container destined for a bonded terminal has been intercepted at Lekki Deep Sea Port, leading to the discovery of 400kg of suspected cannabis concealed among reams of A4 printing paper.
The seizure, valued at about N2.26 billion in Duty Paid Value terms, has highlighted the impact of intelligence-led enforcement and inter-agency collaboration under the leadership of the newly appointed Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has handed over the seized 400kg of suspected cannabis to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following a successful interception at Lekki Deep Sea Port.
The consignment, valued at ₦2,262,960,000 in duty-paid terms, was intercepted on August 19, 2026, after officers acted on credible intelligence and flagged a suspicious container scheduled for onward movement by barge to a bonded terminal outside the Command.
A scan of the container revealed anomalies that prompted a joint physical examination involving the NCS, NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The examination uncovered 400 packages of suspected cannabis weighing 400kg, concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing paper.
Speaking at the formal handover on October 15, Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting the nation’s ports from criminal exploitation while facilitating legitimate trade.
The Handing Over Exercise
He commended the officers and sister agencies involved, stressing that trade facilitation would never mean tolerance for smuggling or drug trafficking.
Kukoyi also acknowledged the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, noting that the Service’s emphasis on collaboration, innovation and intelligence-driven enforcement continued to strengthen its operational capacity.
Group Photograph at the briefing
Receiving the seized exhibits, Jonah Achema, Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, praised the cooperation between the agencies and welcomed Kukoyi’s appointment, expressing confidence that their partnership would further strengthen the fight against illicit drugs.
Achema also recalled the seizure of two containers containing 46 tonnes of illicit pharmaceutical opioids, with an estimated street value of ₦35 billion, describing sustained vigilance and intelligence sharing as essential to disrupting drug trafficking networks operating through the port.
DC Kukoyi addressing the Media
However, the latest interception reinforces the importance of coordinated security operations at Nigeria’s maritime gateways, where effective cargo screening and timely intelligence can prevent suspicious consignments from progressing along the supply chain.
For Customs and the NDLEA, the priority remains clear: protect legitimate commerce, safeguard public health and ensure that the nation’s ports are not used as channels for illicit drug trafficking.
