Customs, NDLEA seize 30.1kg cocaine inside vessel at Lagos port

A joint operation by the Nigeria Customs Service (Apapa Area Command) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted 30 slabs of cocaine weighing 30.1 kilograms aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, MV Aruna, at the Lagos Port.

The seizure was made on the first working day of the year at the Greenview Terminal in Apapa.

The drugs were concealed on the vessel, highlighting the sophisticated methods traffickers attempt to use at the country’s busiest seaport.

In a statement, Apapa Command Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, said Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba commended officers from both agencies for their vigilance and cooperation.

According to Oshoba, the operation reflects effective intelligence sharing and reinforces the command’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit trade.

The NDLEA has taken custody of the narcotics for further investigation and possible prosecution.

This is the third major joint interception in recent weeks. Earlier seizures included 25.5kg of cocaine discovered on another vessel and, in December 2025, over one tonne of cannabis concealed in imported vehicles.

Oshoba reaffirmed that the Apapa Command will continue to facilitate legitimate trade while protecting national security.