Apapa Customs Seizes 169,998 Bottles of Codeine, 7.6 Tonnes of Cannabis, Expired Products

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 13 containers containing cannabis, codeine syrup, restricted drones, used clothing and expired consumer products at Apapa Port, with the consignments reportedly carrying a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦43.59 billion.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the seizures on Thursday, 10 September 2026, during a briefing with journalists at APM Terminals, Apapa Port, Lagos.

Adeniyi said the interceptions were the result of sustained intelligence-led operations involving cargo profiling, documentary checks and targeted physical examinations by officers of the NCS.

He said the Service had also strengthened collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and international security partners to improve enforcement at Nigeria's ports.

“The seaport is where several of those pieces meet. Narcotics, controlled pharmaceuticals, restricted equipment and unsafe goods arrive in the same containers, through the same agents, under the same false declarations, and they are frequently handled by the same syndicates,” Adeniyi said.

Codeine syrup concealed under household items

Among the seizures was a consignment containing 1,700 cartons of codeine syrup, comprising 169,998 bottles, which Customs said had been concealed under household items.

The interception is significant from a medicines-safety perspective because codeine-containing medicines are subject to regulatory controls, and illicit or improperly imported pharmaceutical products can create risks relating to diversion, inappropriate use, product quality and regulatory oversight.

Customs also reported the interception of three containers containing a combined 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg.

The seizures formed part of the wider enforcement operation at the port, which also uncovered consignments that Customs classified as restricted or prohibited.

Customs intercepts 108 restricted drones

Officers also intercepted 108 high-definition dual-camera drones that arrived without the required security approvals and end-user certificates.

Adeniyi said security-sensitive equipment must meet the necessary documentation requirements before clearance.

He warned that consignments arriving without the required approvals would be detained.

“The ports would not be allowed to become a route through which security-sensitive capabilities reach those working against the security of the country,” he said.

The CGC said the development reflected the Service's broader responsibility to prevent the nation's ports from being used to facilitate activities that could undermine national security.

Expired products among seized consignments

Customs further intercepted three containers containing 1,282 bales of used clothing, while five other containers contained expired products, including tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.

Adeniyi warned about the potential public-health implications of importing expired products intended for consumption or body use, particularly where such products could reach vulnerable populations.

The seized consignments are expected to be handed over to the relevant government agencies for further investigation and appropriate action.

The CGC commended officers of the Apapa Area Command, alongside personnel from the NDLEA, NAFDAC and international partners, for their cooperation in the enforcement operations.

Customs stresses inter-agency enforcement

The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the seizures demonstrated the command's commitment to intelligence-led enforcement and its responsibility to prevent prohibited and harmful goods from entering Nigeria.

Oshoba also highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in addressing illicit drug trafficking and other forms of smuggling.

He assured legitimate traders and other stakeholders that the command would continue to support lawful trade while maintaining enforcement against prohibited and harmful consignments.

The seizures underscore the role of Nigeria's ports not only as gateways for legitimate trade but also as critical points for preventing the entry of illicit drugs, unapproved pharmaceutical products, unsafe consumer goods and security-sensitive equipment into the country.