Apapa Customs busts ₦26.57bn Cannabis smuggling ring, seizes 4.1 tonnes hidden in imported cars
Maureen Aguta
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted a massive consignment of Cannabis Indica valued at ₦26.57 billion, hidden inside a container carrying imported used vehicles, in one of the Command’s largest anti-smuggling operations this year.
The seizure, made through a joint intelligence-driven operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), involved 4,143.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica concealed in a 40-foot container at the Command’s Enforcement Unit.
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed that the operation followed credible intelligence, which prompted officials to subject container FANU1933352 to an intensive physical examination on July 10, 2026.
The inspection revealed three imported used vehicles—a 2015 Red Nissan Micra, a 2019 Black Toyota Corolla S, and a 2015 Gray Toyota Corolla. A meticulous search uncovered 162 bags containing 8,287 parcels of Cannabis Indica, with each parcel weighing 500 grams.
According to Customs, four bags of the illicit substance were carefully concealed inside the Nissan Micra, while the remaining 158 bags were hidden beneath the container floor and in the spaces between the three vehicles. No narcotics were found inside either of the two Toyota Corolla vehicles.
The total street value of the seized drugs was estimated at ₦26,569,847,771.
Speaking on the seizure, Comptroller Oshoba described it as another demonstration of the Command’s unwavering determination to prevent prohibited goods from entering the country through Nigeria’s busiest seaport.
He said the operation aligns with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, against smuggling and other forms of illicit trade.
“This seizure once again demonstrates our untiring commitment to ensuring that only lawful trade thrives at Apapa Port. As we intensify investigations into this case, I want to reiterate that this Command has made the port a no-go area for anything prohibited by our laws,” Oshoba said.
The Area Controller also reassured compliant importers and licensed customs agents of the Command’s continued commitment to trade facilitation, stressing that legitimate businesses would continue to benefit from incentives introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service.
He commended officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and vigilance, noting that intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration remain critical to protecting the nation’s borders from transnational criminal networks.
Following the discovery, Comptroller Oshoba ordered the seizure of the container in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and other relevant laws, while investigations continue to identify and prosecute those behind the attempted importation of the illicit drugs.