APAPA CUSTOMS INTERCEPTS 1.8 TONNES OF CANNABIS SATIVA (“CANADIAN LOUD”), SEIZES EXPIRED PHARMACEUTICALS WORTH ₦12.78 BILLION IN MAJOR INTELLIGENCE-LED OPERATIONS

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Canadian Loud,” alongside two containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products, in a major intelligence-led operation aimed at combating illicit trade and protecting public health.

The seizures, announced on Tuesday by the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦12.78 billion.

According to the Command, officers acting on credible intelligence and advanced risk assessment techniques intercepted a 40-foot container, numbered CAAU7569127, carrying 3,639 sachets of Cannabis Sativa weighing approximately 1,819 kilograms.

The illicit drugs were reportedly concealed inside a vehicle and hidden among other items in an attempt to evade detection. Preliminary tests confirmed the substance to be Cannabis Sativa.

The operation was conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant security and regulatory agencies.

In a separate operation, Customs officers also intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products allegedly destined for the Nigerian market.

The first container, numbered PCIU8771576, contained expired medications including Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection and Becoline B-Complex Injection. The second container, numbered MRKU4961275, was found to contain expired medical products such as Oxytocin Injection, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets and Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.

Investigations revealed that the products had expiry dates ranging from 2021 to 2023, raising concerns that the importers intended to relabel and reintroduce them into circulation.

Customs officials said the seizure prevented potentially dangerous and ineffective drugs from reaching hospitals, pharmacies and households across the country.

Speaking on the development, Comptroller Oshoba warned smugglers and criminal networks against using Apapa Port as a gateway for illegal activities.

“Unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress. We have the intelligence, the technology and the resolve to identify and apprehend them,” he said.

He stressed that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance, adding that the Command would continue to intensify intelligence-driven enforcement operations while facilitating legitimate trade.

The Customs boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding national security, protecting public health and supporting economic growth through effective border management and strategic stakeholder collaboration.

The latest seizures underscore the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing efforts to dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks and prevent harmful products from entering the country.

 

Signed:

Isah Sulaiman

Chief Superintendent of Customs

Public Relations Officer

Apapa Area Command

For: Customs Area Controller

Date: June 16, 2026

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