The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking with the seizure of 30.1 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The illicit drugs, packaged in 30 slabs, were intercepted on Friday, January 2, 2026, aboard MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, at the Greenview Terminal, Apapa. The seizure, which occurred on the first working day of the new year, has been described by officials as a significant disruption of international narcotics trafficking networks operating through Nigeria’s busiest seaport.
According to the Customs command, the cocaine was carefully concealed onboard the vessel, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated methods adopted by drug smugglers in their attempt to evade detection and exploit high-volume ports for transnational crime.
Speaking on the interception, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, praised officers of both the NCS and NDLEA for their vigilance, professionalism and effective coordination.
“This achievement reflects the strong inter-agency synergy between federal government institutions and our commitment to intelligence-led enforcement,” Oshoba said.
“While criminal elements continue to devise new ways to outsmart law enforcement, our officers remain one step ahead, ensuring that no smuggling attempt—whether disguised as import, export or transit cargo—succeeds under my watch.”
He described the seizure as a bold statement at the start of 2026, reaffirming the command’s zero-tolerance stance against illicit trade and narcotics trafficking. He added that the interception aligns with the service’s mandate to protect national security while ensuring the smooth facilitation of legitimate trade.
In line with established operational protocols, the seized cocaine has been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and the prosecution of individuals and networks linked to the shipment.
The latest seizure represents the third major drug interception by the joint NCS–NDLEA team in recent weeks, underscoring the sustained pressure being mounted against drug trafficking syndicates operating through Apapa Port.
Barely two weeks earlier, the agencies intercepted 25.5 kilogrammes of cocaine, concealed in five bags aboard another vessel, following actionable intelligence.
Similarly, on December 11, 2025, operatives seized 1,187 kilogrammes of “Canadian Loud”, a highly potent and expensive strain of cannabis. The consignment, packaged in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags, was hidden inside imported vehicles stuffed into a 40-foot container.
Comptroller Oshoba reiterated that the Apapa Port Command remains resolute in balancing trade facilitation with strict enforcement, stressing that criminals will continue to face robust resistance at the port.
“Our mandate is clear: facilitate legitimate commerce while ensuring that Apapa Port is not used as a conduit for drugs, weapons or other items that threaten public safety and national security,” he said.
The sustained seizures, officials noted, demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency collaboration in curbing transnational crime at Nigeria’s major maritime gateways.
ADVERTISEMENTS
