NDLEA takes custody of 6,778.5kg of Canadian loud seized at Lagos port
NDLEA takes custody of 6,778.5kg of Canadian loud seized at Lagos port
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken custody of 6,778.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, intercepted during a joint examination of two containers by NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and other security agencies at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement.
During the handover at Apapa Port yesterday, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), who was represented by the Director of Seaport Operations, ACGN Ibinabo Archie-Abia, described the seizure as a landmark achievement.
“Through two major seizures recorded on June 15 and 24, 2026, we send a clear and unequivocal message that we are more determined than ever to dismantle organised criminal syndicates and drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond our borders,” Marwa said.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said among the items were two 40-foot containers loaded with cannabis sativa and imported vehicles, automobile spare parts and household goods.
He said one of the containers had 3,639 parcels of cannabis sativa (Canadian Loud) weighing 1,819.5 kilograms, while another contained 9,918 sachets of cannabis sativa weighing 4.95 metric tonnes.
Adeniyi also said Customs officers intercepted two separate 40-foot containers conveying 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) and 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) of Codeine Syrup, concealed in consignments of insulated casserole dishes.
The historic seizures were the culmination of months of intelligence-led operations spearheaded by the NDLEA Special Investigation Unit and the NDLEA Marine Intelligence Unit, working in close collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Nigeria Customs Service.
Marwa said the international drug syndicates employed highly sophisticated maritime routes to evade law enforcement, but NDLEA surveillance officers tracked the shipments across multiple continents before intercepting them.
“It bears stating clearly how these consignments moved. The first container, CAAU 7569127, departed Toronto on April 16, 2026. In an apparent attempt to evade detection, it was moved by rail to Montreal before being loaded onto the vessel Ghallow Express. It arrived at Tangier Med, Morocco, on 6 May 2026, where it was trans-shipped onto the Spartel Trader, which berthed at Tin Can Island Port on May 27, 2026. It was subsequently moved to the Global Bonded Terminal before being transferred by water to Apapa Port on June 10, 2026, where it was intercepted during a joint examination by our officers, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.
“The second container, HAMU 3246311, departed Montreal on May 1, 2026 aboard the vessel, Africa Express, before being trans-shipped onto the Algeciras Express on May 15, 2026 and arriving at Tin Can Island Port. Following discharge on June 4, 2026, it was moved to Apapa Port on June 22, 2026, where it fell into the hands of our waiting officers,” he said.
He further said three containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products, including Tramadol, Oxytocin injections, Carbamazepine tablets, Cloxacillin capsules, Vitamin B12 injections and other medical products, were intercepted for regulatory action.
The Service also seized a container conveying Piccan Teething Powder and another containing 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number.
According to the Comptroller-General, although the consignment initially appeared genuine, detailed verification of the documents presented by the importer confirmed that the product was not registered with NAFDAC, indicating a deliberate attempt to introduce unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market.
He noted that the use of forged registration documents posed a threat to public health and warranted the seizure in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Adeniyi said: “These seizures represent far more than monetary value. They represent lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines.”
He explained that the importation of expired pharmaceuticals and controlled substances poses significant risks to public health, while the sophisticated methods adopted by smugglers demonstrate attempts to exploit legitimate trade channels for criminal activities.
According to him, the interceptions show that the Nigeria Customs Service possesses the intelligence capability, technological capacity and operational readiness required to detect, intercept and dismantle criminal networks operating through the nation’s ports.
The Comptroller-General said narcotic drugs would be transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while the expired and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be handed over to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal.
He clarified that where prohibited items were concealed alongside imported vehicles, spare parts and other legitimate goods, only the narcotics and pharmaceutical products were being handed over, while the remaining goods would remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs for seizure, forfeiture, condemnation, revenue recovery and other enforcement actions.
Adeniyi commended officers and men of the Apapa Area Command for their professionalism, vigilance and dedication, while applauding the sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, NAFDAC and other security agencies.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with local and international stakeholders to prevent criminal organisations from exploiting Nigeria’s ports and borders.
He warned smugglers that Nigerian ports would no longer serve as safe haven for illicit trade, adding that the Service would continue to deploy technology, intelligence and coordinated border management to intercept prohibited goods, prosecute offenders and safeguard the nation’s economy, public health and security.
Marwa warned that the agency would not stop at confiscating illicit drugs but would aggressively pursue the financial structures of the criminal syndicates to ensure traffickers do not benefit from their illegal activities.
“We recognise that the staggering profits generated by illicit drug trafficking continue to fuel crimes against humanity and against our nation, despite the devastating toll they take on individuals, families and communities. As such, we remain resolute. Our work does not end with seizure. We are committed to identifying, arresting and prosecuting those responsible, confiscating their criminal assets, and ensuring that they derive no benefit whatsoever from their illegal enterprise,” he stated.
He also commended the leadership and personnel of the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies for their professionalism and commitment.
“I commend, in the strongest terms, the dedication, professionalism and courage of the officers and men of the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and all sister security agencies who refused to look away and allow these dangerous substances to flood our communities. Your patriotism and unwavering commitment have once again proven that you are effective guardians of our maritime gateways.
“This success was made possible by the intelligence-sharing and operational synergy displayed by every participating agency. It is a powerful demonstration of what inter-agency collaboration, international cooperation and intelligence-driven operations can achieve in the fight against transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking,” Marwa added.
