Death Trap Dismantled: Apapa Customs Seizes 1.81 Tonnes Of Drug, Expired Pharmaceuticals Before They Reach Nigerian Homes
Death Trap Dismantled: Apapa Customs Seizes 1.81 Tonnes Of Drug, Expired Pharmaceuticals Before They Reach Nigerian Homes
By Success Okezie
The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has struck another decisive blow against transnational crime. In intelligence-driven operations, the Command intercepted 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa “Canadian Loud” and two 40ft containers of expired pharmaceuticals worth ₦12,784,479,341.72 Duty Paid Value. The message is clear: Apapa Port is now a trap, not a passage, for smugglers.
On Monday, 15th June 2026 at 12:00hrs, Customs officers acting on credible, actionable intelligence teamed up with the NDLEA to intercept 1 x 40ft container, No. CAAU7569127. Inside, smugglers had hidden 3,639 sachets of Cannabis Sativa, each weighing 500g. Total weight: 1,819kg, about 1.81 tonnes.
The concealment was sophisticated. The drugs were packed inside a black Toyota Sienna SUV, plus several bags and drums, all loaded to avoid detection during routine checks. But Apapa’s advanced risk assessment tools and profiling flagged the container. Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa. That single seizure removes enough “Canadian Loud” to flood Nigerian streets for months.
The Command didn’t stop there. In a related operation, officers intercepted 2 x 40ft containers filled with expired pharmaceuticals smuggled in for illegal relabeling.
Container No. PCIU8771576 held expired Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection, and Becoline B-Complex Injection.
Container No. MRKU4961275 contained expired Oxytocin Injection, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets, and Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.
All items carried expiry dates of 2021, 2022, and 2023. The plan was to repackage them and push them into hospitals, pharmacies, and homes. Customs examination, done jointly with regulatory agencies, stopped that public health disaster before it started
The combined Duty Paid Value of all seizures is ₦12,784,479,341.72. That’s not just revenue lost — it’s economic sabotage. Cannabis fuels violent crime, addiction, and insecurity. Expired drugs kill patients, weaken public trust in healthcare, and damage Nigeria’s medical reputation. By intercepting these consignments, Apapa Command protected lives, protected the economy, and shielded legitimate businesses from unfair competition.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the successes prove Apapa’s enforcement strategy is working. The Command now relies on intelligence gathering, strategic profiling, data analysis, and strong collaboration with NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, and other agencies. Physical examinations are conducted jointly to ensure transparency.
He stressed that while enforcement is tough on criminals, trade facilitation remains a priority. High-risk containers are targeted, while compliant importers enjoy faster clearance under the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda.
Compt Oshoba sent a direct warning to economic saboteurs: “Unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who traffic in drugs and expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress. We have the intelligence, the technology, and the resolve to identify and apprehend them. Apapa Port will not be used as a conduit for economic sabotage and public health endangerment. Anyone still contemplating these crimes should desist now, because the consequences will be swift, decisive, and uncompromising.”
He confirmed that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance. Officers are resolute in protecting Nigeria’s economy, safeguarding public health, and preventing criminal exploitation of our borders.
All seized items remain in Customs custody pending investigation and prosecution. The Command reassured Nigerians that intelligence-driven operations will be intensified to protect lives, secure legitimate trade, and uphold national security.
_Press Statement by Isah Sulaiman, Chief Superintendent of Customs & Public Relations Officer, Apapa Area Command._
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