Customs, NDLEA Bust 1.81 Tonnes Of Canadian Loud In Lagos

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as Canadian Loud, alongside expired pharmaceutical products with a combined duty-paid value estimated at ₦12.7 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

According to Ireporter Online, the operation was carried out by the Apapa Area Command in collaboration with officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stationed at the port, resulting in one of the largest seizures recorded in recent times.

Speaking during the presentation of the confiscated items to journalists, the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, revealed that the success of the operation was driven by credible intelligence, advanced risk assessment techniques and detailed cargo profiling.

He disclosed that Customs officers, working closely with NDLEA operatives, intercepted a 40-foot container identified as CAAU7569127, which concealed a large quantity of the highly potent marijuana strain illegally imported into Nigeria. He noted that the seized narcotics would have been worth billions of naira if they had reached the black market.

Oshoba explained that the interception reflects the agency’s renewed determination to prevent prohibited and harmful substances from entering the country through its seaports, emphasizing that modern scanning technology and intelligence-led enforcement enabled officers to identify the suspicious shipment for thorough examination.

In a separate operation, the command also intercepted two additional 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products unlawfully brought into the country. Physical inspection revealed that the medicines had expired between 2021 and 2023.

The Customs boss alleged that those behind the importation intended to repackage and relabel the expired drugs before distributing them across the Nigerian market, a move he described as a serious threat to public health and safety.

He stated that valuation officers placed the combined duty-paid value of the seized cannabis and expired pharmaceutical products at approximately ₦12.7 billion, underscoring the magnitude of the operation.

Oshoba warned smugglers, importers and their collaborators that the Apapa Command would continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement measures to stop the importation of prohibited goods through the port. He stressed that criminal elements would not be allowed to use Apapa Port as a gateway for illicit drugs, expired medicines and other dangerous products capable of endangering public health, national security and the economy.

He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, and the management of the service for investing in continuous training programmes and modern enforcement tools, which he said have significantly enhanced officers’ ability to detect suspicious cargo and respond effectively to smuggling attempts.

The Customs Area Controller further praised the partnership between the NCS and the NDLEA, describing the collaboration as a critical factor in the successful interception of contraband at the port. He added that investigations were ongoing to identify the importers, clearing agents and other individuals connected to the seized consignments, assuring that anyone found culpable would face prosecution in accordance with the law.

The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against smuggling and urged legitimate importers to comply with existing import regulations, warning that false declarations, concealment of goods and the importation of prohibited items would attract the full weight of the law.