Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, have intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Canadian Loud, along with expired pharmaceutical products valued at N12.7 billion during a joint operation at Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday
by the spokesperson for the Apapa Command, Isah Sulaiman.
Addressing journalists while displaying the seized items,
the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba,
said the operation was carried out in collaboration with operatives of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, stationed at the port.
According to him, the success of the operation was made
possible through credible intelligence gathering and the deployment of advanced
risk assessment and profiling tools by Customs officers.
Oshoba explained that Customs officers and NDLEA operatives
jointly intercepted a 40-foot container marked CAAU7569127, which was found to
contain a large quantity of the illicit substance.
He described Canadian Loud as a highly potent strain of
marijuana illegally imported into the country and worth several billions of
naira on the black market.
The comptroller further disclosed that officers also
uncovered significant quantities of expired drugs concealed in containers in an
attempt to evade detection.
In a related operation, the command intercepted two
additional 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products
imported into the country unlawfully.
According to Oshoba, physical examination revealed that the
drugs had expired between 2021 and 2023.
He alleged that the importers intended to repackage and
relabel the expired products for circulation within the Nigerian market,
warning that such products posed serious health dangers to consumers.
The Customs boss stated that valuation officers estimated
the combined duty-paid value of the seized cannabis and expired drugs at N12.7
billion.
He warned smugglers and their collaborators that the Apapa
Command would continue to intensify efforts to block the importation of
prohibited items through the port.
Oshoba also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs,
Bashir Adeniyi, and the management of the service for continuous training
programmes which, according to him, have improved operational efficiency among
officers.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding
national security, public health and the economy by preventing dangerous and
illicit substances from entering the country.
The comptroller praised the collaboration between Customs
and the NDLEA, noting that the partnership had significantly enhanced the
interception of contraband items at Apapa Port.
He added that modern scanning technology and cargo profiling
systems played a major role in identifying the suspicious containers for
detailed inspection.
According to him, investigations are ongoing to identify the
importers, clearing agents and other individuals connected to the seized
consignments for possible prosecution.
The Nigeria Customs Service reiterated its zero-tolerance
policy against smuggling and urged legitimate importers to comply fully with
existing import regulations to avoid sanctions.
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