The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 347.5 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle at Apapa Port, Lagos.
The illicit substance was discovered during a joint inspection of a consignment containing four vehicles, according to a statement issued by the Customs Public Relations Officer of the Apapa Port Command, Isah Sulaiman.
He said the drugs were hidden in 13 bags inside one of the vehicles. A detailed weighing revealed 10 bags weighing 25kg each, one bag weighing 29kg, and two bags weighing 34.5kg and 34kg respectively, bringing the total to 347.5kg.
The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Port Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, said the seizure marked the fourth major joint drug interception by the NCS and NDLEA at the port in less than two months.
Oshoba said the development underscored his resolve that no cargo, whether import or export, would pass through the port without thorough examination, warning criminal elements that attempts to smuggle prohibited items through Apapa Port would be detected and thwarted. He attributed the success to strong inter-agency collaboration, noting that intelligence sharing and joint enforcement between the NCS and NDLEA had continued to outmanoeuvre smuggling networks operating in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
According to him, the seizure was a direct result of the strengthened partnership between the two agencies.
Oshoba also disclosed that plans were underway to deploy a high-capacity drive-through scanner capable of processing 200 containers per hour to further enhance technology-driven anti-smuggling operations at the port.
He added that the agencies’ Standard Operating Procedures continued to promote zero tolerance, professionalism and seamless cooperation among officers. The controller confirmed that the seized 347.5kg of Canadian Loud had been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects, in line with established protocols.
He said the interception aligned with the 2026 International Customs Day theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment,” reaffirming the Apapa Port Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to curb illicit activities.
The guardian
