By Holison Joshua
…Customs Seizes Narcotics, Drones, Expired Products Worth ₦43.59bn…
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has warned that Apapa Port will not be allowed to serve as a channel for activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s national security.
Adeniyi issued the warning on Thursday, September 10, 2026, while briefing journalists at APM Terminals, Apapa, following the interception of 13 containers containing narcotics, codeine-based syrup, restricted drones, used clothing and expired consumer products with a combined value of ₦43.59 billion.
According to him, the seizures were achieved through sustained intelligence gathering, cargo profiling, documentary verification and targeted physical examination by officers of the Service.
The CGC said the development reflected the Customs Service’s determination to strengthen controls at the nation’s ports and prevent criminal networks from exploiting legitimate trade channels to move prohibited consignments.
He said the nature of the seizures also demonstrated the growing importance of inter-agency cooperation, noting that the NCS had intensified collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and international security partners.
“The seaport is where several of those pieces meet. Narcotics, controlled pharmaceuticals, restricted equipment and unsafe goods arrive in the same containers, through the same agents, under the same false declarations, and they are frequently handled by the same syndicates,” Adeniyi said.
Giving details of the interceptions, the CGC disclosed that three containers contained a combined 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624 kilogrammes.
He said another container concealed 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup beneath household items.
Customs officers also intercepted 108 high-definition dual-camera drones allegedly imported without the required security approvals and end-user certificates.
Adeniyi stressed that security-sensitive equipment must satisfy all regulatory and documentation requirements before being cleared through the ports.
“Consignments of that character that arrive without them will be detained. The ports would not be allowed to become a route through which security-sensitive capabilities reach those working against the security of the country,” he warned.
The CGC further disclosed that three containers were found to contain 1,282 bales of used clothing, while five other containers carried expired products, including tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.
He expressed concern over the potential consequences of bringing expired products intended for human consumption or body use into the country, particularly where such products could reach vulnerable groups, including children and women.
Adeniyi said the intercepted consignments would be handed over to the appropriate government agencies for further investigation and necessary action.
He commended officers and men of the Apapa Area Command, as well as personnel of the NDLEA, NAFDAC and international partners, for their cooperation and contributions to the successful interceptions.
The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the seizures underscored the command’s resolve to deploy intelligence-driven enforcement in stopping prohibited and potentially harmful goods from entering the country.
Oshoba also highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration among relevant agencies in confronting drug trafficking, smuggling and other forms of cross-border criminality.
He assured legitimate traders and other stakeholders that the command would continue to enforce customs laws while facilitating lawful commercial activities at Apapa Port.
