Authorities transfer N53.39bn worth of confiscated narcotics to anti-drug agencies NDLEA and NAFDAC

The Nigeria Customs Service handed over nine containers of seized hard drugs, expired, fake, and prohibited pharmaceutical products to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Wednesday, with a duty-paid value of N53.391 billion.

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The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that the seizures were a result of diligent intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration aimed at protecting public health and national security during the handover ceremony in Apapa.

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Adeniyi explained that the Apapa Area Command made the seizures following intelligence gathering, scanning analysis, physical examination, and collaboration with the NDLEA, which led to the discovery of the illicit goods.

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The event, coming days after the commemoration of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders, safeguarding public health, and strengthening national security through intelligence-driven border management, according to Adeniyi.

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A 40-foot container with registration number CAAU7569127 was found to contain 3,639 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,819.5 kilograms, concealed alongside three imported vehicles and assorted automobile spare parts, Adeniyi said.

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Another 40-foot container, with registration number HAMU3246311, contained 9,918 sachets of cannabis sativa weighing approximately 4.95 metric tonnes, concealed alongside two imported vehicles and household items, he added.

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A 40-foot container with registration number MRKU3816476 was discovered to contain 1,700 cartons of codeine syrup concealed with 38 cartons of insulated casserole dishes, according to Adeniyi.

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Adeniyi also mentioned that another 40-foot container with registration number TGBU5399178 conveyed 1,698 cartons of codeine syrup concealed inside 36 cartons of casserole products, and a 40-foot container, HASU4519480, conveyed 1,300 cartons of expired pharmaceutical products, including tramadol.

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A 40-foot container with registration number MRKU4961275 was found to contain 1,269 cartons of expired pharmaceutical products, including oxytocin injections, Mexclor eye drops, and carbamazepine tablets, Adeniyi said.

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Other intercepted consignments included a 40-foot container with registration number PCIU8771576 comprising expired pharmaceutical products, such as cloxicillin capsules, Cynamine 12 Vitamin B12 injections, and Becoline B-Complex injections, all of which were seized for regulatory action.

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A 20-foot container with registration number MRKU6964435 containing Piccan teething powder and a 40-foot container with registration number TCKU7000791 containing 1,100 packages of Chacold chlorpheniramine maleate capsules bearing a fake National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control registration number were also seized, Adeniyi said.

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The cumulative duty-paid value of the nine seizures was N53.391 billion, according to Adeniyi, who noted that the seizures resulted from intelligence analysis and non-intrusive inspection.

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Adeniyi explained that although the consignments initially appeared legitimate, detailed verification of the NAFDAC certificate presented by the declarant revealed that the products were not registered with the agency, indicating a deliberate attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into Nigeria.

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The use of fake registration numbers and supporting documentation posed a serious threat to public health, and the consignment was seized in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, Adeniyi said.

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Adeniyi stated that the seizures represented more than monetary value, as they represented lives protected, families preserved, communities secured, and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines.

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The Comptroller-General warned that the importation of expired pharmaceuticals and controlled substances poses a direct threat to public health, while the sophisticated concealment methods employed by criminal networks demonstrated their determination to exploit legitimate trade channels for illicit purposes.

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Adeniyi noted that the interceptions showed that the NCS possessed the intelligence capability, technological capacity, and operational readiness to detect and disrupt such criminal activities, and that narcotic drugs would be formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.

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Expired pharmaceutical products would be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal, Adeniyi explained, adding that where prohibited items were concealed alongside vehicles, automobile spare parts, or other imported goods, only the narcotic drugs and expired pharmaceuticals would be handed over.

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Adeniyi commended officers of the Apapa Area Command and vowed that the service would continue to deepen collaboration with relevant government agencies, the private sector, and international partners to prevent criminal organisations from exploiting Nigeria’s ports and borders.

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The Comptroller-General stated that every intelligence lead would be pursued, every violation thoroughly investigated, and every offender brought to justice, as the service remained committed to building a secure trading environment that protects the economy, safeguards public health, and reinforces national security.

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Adeniyi sent a clear message to those who seek to use Nigeria’s ports to traffic illicit drugs, expired pharmaceuticals, or other prohibited goods, stating that Nigeria’s ports are no longer safe havens for smugglers or organised criminal networks.

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The Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, described the event as a landmark in the collaboration between the NDLEA and the NCS, while taking over the seized narcotics, represented by Assistant Commander of Narcotics Archie-Abia Ogboba.

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Marwa stated that the seizures had taken 6,778.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica, popularly known as ‘Canadian Loud,’ out of circulation, and sent a clear message that they were more determined than ever to dismantle organised criminal syndicates and drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.

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Marwa added that both seizures resulted from intelligence-led operations conducted by the NDLEA Special Investigation Unit and Marine Intelligence Unit in collaboration with foreign partners, particularly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which had carefully developed actionable intelligence over four months.