By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Canadian Loud, and expired pharmaceutical products with a combined duty-paid value of ₦12.7 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure was disclosed on Tuesday in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Isah Sulaiman.
The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, said the operation was successfully executed through intelligence-driven enforcement and close collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to Oshoba, officers of the command working jointly with NDLEA operatives intercepted a 40-foot container with registration number CAAU7569127, which was used to convey the large consignment of illicit drugs.
He explained that the seizure was made possible through actionable intelligence, advanced risk assessment techniques and enhanced profiling systems deployed by Customs officers.
The comptroller described the intercepted Cannabis Sativa, commonly referred to as Canadian Loud, as a highly potent strain of marijuana that was illegally imported into the country.
He added that Customs officers also uncovered large quantities of expired pharmaceutical products concealed in containers in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
In a related operation, the command intercepted two additional 40-foot containers loaded with expired drugs that had been illegally imported into Nigeria.
Physical examination of the containers revealed that the pharmaceutical products had expired between 2021 and 2023.
Oshoba said investigations indicated that the importers intended to relabel the expired drugs and reintroduce them into the Nigerian market, a development he described as a serious threat to public health and consumer safety.
“The combined duty-paid value of the intercepted Canadian Loud and expired pharmaceutical products is estimated at ₦12.7 billion,” he said.
The Customs boss warned smugglers and their collaborators that the Apapa Command would continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement efforts to prevent prohibited goods from entering the country through the nation’s busiest seaport.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, and the Customs management team for prioritising continuous training and capacity building for officers, noting that the initiative had significantly improved operational efficiency.
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Oshoba reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding national security, protecting public health and defending the economy from the dangers posed by illicit imports.
He also praised the strong partnership between Customs and NDLEA, saying joint operations had enhanced the detection and interception of prohibited substances at the port.
According to him, advanced scanning equipment and risk-profiling technology played a critical role in identifying the suspicious containers for physical examination.
The comptroller disclosed that investigations were ongoing to identify the importers, clearing agents and other individuals connected to the shipment for prosecution in accordance with relevant laws.
He reaffirmed the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy against smuggling and urged importers and freight agents to comply strictly with import regulations to avoid severe sanctions.
