Customs intercepts N10bn worth of contraband, ammunition in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 16 containers of contraband valued at over N10 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, arresting five suspects linked to the seizures.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this at a press conference on Monday, saying the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering, coordinated inspections, and inter-agency collaboration.

The seized items included Canadian cannabis indica, firearms, expired pharmaceuticals, counterfeit goods, frozen poultry, and used clothing.

According to Adeniyi, three suspects have been charged to court and remanded in Ikoyi Prison, while two others are on administrative bail pending further investigation. He explained that a 40-foot container, numbered MRSU6407089, which had been cleared as clean cargo, was found during a joint inspection with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to contain 202 cans of Canadian cannabis, two pump-action rifles, 25 cartridges, a Smith & Wesson pistol, 55 rounds of ammunition, and other accessories.

The shipment, he said, was consigned to a Lagos-based importer identified as Mr. Babatunde Ogidioglu.

Other seizures included seven containers of expired drugs and banned medicaments, three containers of expired food products mainly margarine, three containers of prohibited used clothing, and two 40-foot containers each loaded with 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry.

One container, numbered ZZSU7277511, held 305 cartons of unregistered toothpaste concealed under beads and jalabiyas, while expired chest and lung tablets without NAFDAC registration numbers were also intercepted.

Additionally, two newly arrived containers of codeine syrup were traced to the same syndicate.

Adeniyi placed the duty-paid value of the goods at over N10 billion, noting that their street value in criminal hands would be significantly higher.

He stressed that the NCS would maintain strict checks on pharmaceutical imports and prevent the transfer of such containers to bonded terminals, citing operators’ failure to comply with standards.

He commended the Apapa Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, as well as sister agencies including NAFDAC, NDLEA, and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for their cooperation.

NAFDAC’s Director of Ports, Dr. Olakunle Olaniyan, described the intercepted pharmaceuticals as fake and dangerous to public health, noting that the agency maintains inspection offices in China and India to monitor exports before they reach Nigeria.

NDLEA Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Buba Wakawa, confirmed that the cannabis indica originated from Canada and is more potent than the locally grown cannabis sativa.

The Zonal Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired Commissioner of Police Mustapha Alamutu, also praised the NCS for its consistent support in combating illicit arms trafficking.