By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted illicit and expired consignments with a combined duty-paid value of N43.59 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, highlighting intensified efforts to strengthen trade security and protect legitimate businesses operating through the nation’s maritime gateways.
The seizures, made from 12 containers at the APM Terminals examination bay, included surveillance drones, cannabis, codeine syrup, expired pharmaceutical products, food items, used clothing and other restricted goods.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the seizures on Thursday while briefing maritime journalists in Lagos.
Adeniyi said the enforcement operation was driven by intelligence, cargo profiling, documentary scrutiny and targeted examination, with the Service working alongside agencies including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and NAFDAC.
According to the Customs CG, three containers contained a combined 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg.
One of the containers also contained automobile spare parts, food products and three vehicles, while another was loaded with cannabis and three vehicles.
A third container containing cannabis also had foreign parboiled rice, automobile spare parts, lithium batteries, a PV combiner box, turmeric and fish products.
Adeniyi said the seizures demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led cargo screening in preventing prohibited goods from entering Nigeria through the formal trade system.
The Service also intercepted 108 high-definition dual-camera drones from a 40-foot container.
Although drones have legitimate commercial and industrial applications, Adeniyi warned that restricted and security-sensitive equipment could pose risks when imported without appropriate approvals.
He urged importers dealing in such equipment to obtain the necessary security approvals, end-user certificates and documentation before attempting clearance.
Customs officers also intercepted 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup, packed in 1,700 cartons and concealed beneath household items.
The seizure, according to Adeniyi, underscores the continuing challenge posed by the movement of controlled pharmaceutical products through Nigeria’s supply chain.
He said the NCS would continue to work with relevant agencies to prevent illicit pharmaceuticals and narcotics from reaching the domestic market.
Five other containers were found to be loaded with expired products, including tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.
The NCS also intercepted 1,282 bales of used clothing from three containers.
Adeniyi said the interception of expired consumer and pharmaceutical products was important for protecting Nigerian consumers and ensuring that the country’s ports were not used to introduce unsafe products into the market.
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The Customs boss said the Service was strengthening its cargo profiling and risk-assessment systems to detect illicit goods hidden within otherwise legitimate consignments.
He cited the deployment of the B’Odogwu platform and the establishment of an INTERPOL Data Centre at the NCS headquarters in Abuja as part of efforts to improve intelligence-led enforcement.
The INTERPOL centre provides Customs officers access to more than 152 international databases, according to Adeniyi.
He stressed that the NCS’s mandate goes beyond revenue collection to include securing the supply chain, protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the safety of goods entering the country.
The seized consignments will be handed over to relevant government agencies for further investigation and necessary action.
Adeniyi assured legitimate importers that the Service would continue to facilitate lawful trade while strengthening controls against prohibited, unsafe and security-sensitive consignments.
