Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria - August 12, 2025: The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has intercepted 16 containers packed with illicit goods valued at over N10 billion, marking one of the agency’s most significant enforcement operations in recent months.
Announced in Lagos by Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, the seizures include hard drugs, firearms, expired pharmaceuticals, banned poultry products, and counterfeit consumer items.
The operation, which involved weeks of intelligence gathering and collaboration with other agencies, led to the arrest of five suspects—three of whom are now in court and remanded at Ikoyi Prison, while two remain on administrative bail.
Among the seized items was a 40-foot container, MRSU6407089 initially cleared as legitimate cargo. A joint inspection with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA revealed 202 cans of Canadian marijuana, “Colorado Loud” weighing 101 kilograms.
Further scanning uncovered two pump-action rifles, 25 cartridges, a Smith & Wesson pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, and other weapon accessories. The container was traced to a Lagos-based consignee, Babatunde Ogidioglu.
Additional contraband included: seven containers of expired and prohibited drugs: three containers of expired food products, primarily margarine; three containers of banned used clothing; two containers each holding 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry; one container (ZZSU7277511) concealing 305 cartons of unregistered toothpaste beneath beads and jalabiya, two containers of expired chest and lung tablets lacking NAFDAC registration and two newly arrived containers of codeine syrup linked to a known drug syndicate
Adeniyi reiterated his earlier directed that pharmaceutical containers will no longer be examined at bonded terminals due to widespread non-compliance and the risk of expired drug imports.
He also revealed that intelligence points to a broader international trafficking network behind the smuggling operation.
“We have credible intelligence that these criminal elements are working together. As they collaborate, we will also collaborate—locally and globally—to crush their operations,” he said.
The Customs boss reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to working with agencies like NAFDAC, NDLEA, and international Customs bodies under a Customs-to-Customs Cooperation framework to dismantle smuggling syndicates and safeguard public health and safety.
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