Odita Sunday 
Customs Intercepts ₦53.39bn Drugs, Fake, Expired Medicines at Apapa, Warns Smugglers
By Odita Sunday
In one of the biggest anti-smuggling operations recorded at Nigeria’s seaports in recent times, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted narcotic drugs and expired pharmaceutical products worth ₦53.39 billion at the Apapa Area Command, declaring that Nigerian ports are no longer safe corridors for criminal syndicates.
The seizures, involving Cannabis Sativa, Codeine Syrup, expired drugs and pharmaceutical products carrying fake regulatory documentation, were formally handed over on Wednesday to relevant agencies for investigation and regulatory action.
Announcing the development during a briefing at Apapa, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the operation reflected a deliberate shift towards intelligence-led enforcement and stronger inter-agency collaboration aimed at protecting public health and national security.
According to him, the seizures followed extensive intelligence gathering, scanning analysis, physical examination and coordinated operations with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Customs boss linked the operation to outcomes from the 147th/148th Sessions of the Council of World Customs Organisation in Brussels, where customs administrations from 187 member countries met under the theme, “Customs Protecting the Society through Vigilance and Commitment.”
Adeniyi said among the major interceptions was container CAAU7569127, a 40-foot shipment discovered to contain 3,639 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as Canadian Loud, weighing 1,819.5 kilograms and concealed alongside three imported vehicles and assorted automobile spare parts.
Another container, HAMU3246311, was intercepted with 9,918 sachets of Cannabis Sativa weighing approximately 4.95 metric tonnes hidden among imported vehicles and household items.
Customs also uncovered two major consignments of Codeine Syrup. Container MRKU3816476 contained 1,700 cartons equivalent to 170,000 bottles concealed with insulated casserole dishes, while container TGBU5399178 carried 1,698 cartons or 169,800 bottles hidden inside casserole products.
Further inspections led to the seizure of expired pharmaceutical products in multiple containers.
Container HASU4519480 was found carrying 1,300 cartons of expired products including Tramadol (Timakadol), while container MRKU4961275 contained 1,269 cartons including Oxytocin injections, Mexclor Eye Drops and Carbamazepine tablets under the Termigral brand.
Another intercepted shipment, container PCIU8771576, contained expired pharmaceutical products including Cloxicillin capsules 100mg, Cynamine 12 Vitamin B12 injections and Becoline B-Complex injections.
Customs officers also intercepted container MRKU6964435 carrying Piccan Teething Powder.
In a separate interception described as a sophisticated smuggling attempt, container TCKU7000791 was found carrying 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number and labelled with an expiry date of December 2028.
Adeniyi disclosed that although the consignment initially appeared legitimate, further verification established that the products were not registered with NAFDAC.
He said the use of forged documentation pointed to a calculated effort to introduce unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market.
The Comptroller-General stressed that the seizures represented more than economic value.
“These seizures represent lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines,” he said.
Under the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, Adeniyi said narcotic consignments would be transferred to NDLEA for investigation and prosecution, while expired pharmaceutical products would be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for regulatory action and safe disposal.
He clarified that where prohibited items were concealed alongside vehicles and other imported goods, only the narcotics and pharmaceutical products would be transferred, while the remaining items would remain under Customs custody for seizure, forfeiture, condemnation and revenue recovery.
Commending officers and men of the Apapa Area Command, Adeniyi also praised the partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, NAFDAC and other security agencies.
Issuing a warning to traffickers, he declared that Customs would continue to close operational gaps exploited by organised criminal networks.
“Every intelligence lead will be pursued, every violation thoroughly investigated and every offender brought to justice in accordance with the law,” he said.
About the Author
