Apapa Customs, NDLEA Intercept 347.5kg of Canadian Loud Hidden in Imported Vehicle

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Port Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a high-grade strain of cannabis, concealed inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

The seizure was made during a joint operation conducted less than 24 hours after the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, received the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit for outstanding service.

According to Customs officials, the illicit drugs were hidden in 13 bags inside one of four vehicles contained in a single import consignment. A detailed examination and weighing revealed that ten of the bags weighed 25 kilograms each, one weighed 29 kilograms, while the remaining two weighed 34.5 kilograms and 34 kilograms respectively, bringing the total seizure to 347.5 kilograms.

This interception represents the fourth major joint drug seizure by the NCS and NDLEA at the Apapa Port within the last two months, highlighting intensified surveillance and enforcement efforts at Nigeria’s busiest seaport.

Reacting to the development, Comptroller Oshoba warned that criminal networks attempting to smuggle prohibited substances through Apapa Port would continue to be exposed.

“Any attempt by criminal elements to traffic prohibited items through Apapa Port will be detected and thwarted. We remain vigilant and resolute in the discharge of our duty to protect our society and national security,” he stated.

The operation further underscores the growing inter-agency collaboration championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD. Through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement, Customs and NDLEA officers have recorded repeated successes against smuggling syndicates operating within Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Comptroller Oshoba attributed the latest seizure to this strengthened partnership, noting that the planned deployment of a high-capacity drive-through scanner capable of inspecting 200 containers per hour would significantly boost technology-driven anti-smuggling operations at the port.

In line with established Standard Operating Procedures, the seized 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud have been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects linked to the shipment.

The latest interception adds to recent recognitions received by Comptroller Oshoba and the NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander, Mohammed Tukur, both of whom were awarded the WCO Certificate of Merit on Monday, 26 January 2026, in Abuja during activities marking the International Customs Day celebrations in Nigeria.

The operation aligns with the 2026 International Customs Day theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment.” Customs authorities reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to disrupt illicit activities and safeguard public safety.

Isah Sulaiman

Chief Superintendent of Customs

Customs Public Relations Officer

Apapa Port Command

For: Customs Area Controller

27 January 2026