Customs, NDLEA Intercept ₦16.6bn Cannabis Shipment in Major Lagos Port Operation
Customs, NDLEA Intercept ₦16.6bn Cannabis Shipme
nt in Major Lagos Port Operation
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a large consignment of cannabis valued at approximately ₦16.6 billion in a major anti-drug operation at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
The illicit shipment, which was discovered following coordinated intelligence gathering and surveillance, contained about 4,173.5 kilograms of cannabis indica carefully concealed inside a 40-foot container imported from Canada.
According to Customs officials, the container was falsely declared as carrying vehicles and other goods in an attempt to evade security checks. However, a detailed inspection led to the discovery of 8,347 packages of the banned substance hidden within multiple compartments.
Authorities confirmed that the interception was the result of sustained collaboration between Customs enforcement units and NDLEA operatives, designed to curb the increasing use of Nigerian ports for international drug trafficking.
Officials described the seizure as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle drug syndicates operating through West African shipping routes, noting that the consignment was tracked through multiple international transit points before arriving in Nigeria.
The NDLEA said the seized drugs would undergo forfeiture procedures, while investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the criminal networks behind the shipment, including possible local and international collaborators.
Security agencies also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening intelligence sharing, surveillance operations, and inter-agency coordination to prevent Nigeria’s maritime borders from being exploited by drug cartels.
The latest interception adds to a series of recent high-profile drug seizures at Nigerian ports, underscoring intensified efforts by security agencies to combat narcotics trafficking and protect public health.
