Customs, NDLEA Partner Seize N2.26BN Suspected Cannabis Hidden In A4 Papper Container At Lekki Port
Customs, NDLEA Partner Seize N2.26BN Suspected Cannabis Hidden In A4 Papper Container At Lekki Port
…Joint operation stops 400kg illicit drug consignment from exiting port under transire procedure
By Success Okezie
In a major intelligence-led breakthrough, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, in collaboration with sister agencies, have intercepted a container laden with 400 kilograms of substances suspected to be cannabis, cleverly concealed in 798 reams of A4 printing paper at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
The consignment, valued at N2,262,960,000 in duty-paid terms, was intercepted after Customs officers acted on credible intelligence to stop the container from leaving the port for onward movement by barge to a bonded terminal.
The seizure was formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday, October 15, 2026, for further investigation and necessary action, in a ceremony that reaffirmed the growing synergy between Customs and anti-narcotics operatives at Nigeria’s deepest seaport.
At the centre of the operation are Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, Acting Customs Area Controller, Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, and Commander Jonah Achema, Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander, NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, who both vowed to make Lekki Port a no-go area for drug trafficking cartels.
Giving details of the interception, DC Kukoyi disclosed that the operation took place on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, when officers of the Command, acting on actionable intelligence, flagged Container Number PRSU1562064 at the Lekki Freeport Terminal.
According to him, the container was scheduled to exit the Command under the Customs transire procedure — a system that allows cargo to be moved by waterways to an approved bonded terminal outside the port.
However, based on security concerns surrounding the shipment, officers took a proactive decision to step down the container for detailed scrutiny rather than allow it to proceed.
The container was first subjected to non-intrusive scanning, which revealed suspicious anomalies. This prompted a comprehensive joint physical examination by a combined team comprising the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The examination uncovered seven pallets containing substances suspected to be illicit drugs, ingeniously concealed among ordinary A4 paper reams to beat detection.
At the end of the exercise, operatives recovered 400 packages of suspected cannabis weighing 400kg.
Kukoyi noted that had the container been allowed to sail out under transire, the opportunity for thorough examination within the port would have been lost, underscoring the importance of risk profiling and pre-exit scrutiny.
Addressing stakeholders at the handover, DC Kukoyi described the seizure as a clear demonstration of the Service’s resolve to protect Nigeria’s borders, safeguard public health, and prevent the nation’s ports and Free Trade Zones from being exploited for criminal enterprise.
He stressed that while the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command remains fully committed to facilitating legitimate trade and supporting compliant investors, it will not condone smuggling, drug trafficking and economic sabotage in any form.
The operation, he said, highlights the efficacy of intelligence-led enforcement, deployment of modern Customs technology, and seamless inter-agency cooperation.
He commended the officers involved in the interception and lauded the cooperation of the NDLEA Lekki Port Command, DSS, NAFDAC, and the management of Lekki Freeport Terminal, noting that the result shows what is achievable when agencies share intelligence and place national interest above institutional boundaries.
Kukoyi also attributed the feat to the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, whose tripod policy of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation continues to strengthen the Service’s enforcement, revenue and trade facilitation mandates.
He urged port operators, shipping lines, licensed customs agents, importers and members of the public to support security agencies with timely, credible information.
Receiving the exhibits, Commander Jonah Achema commended the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies for their vigilance and cooperation.
He welcomed DC Kukoyi to the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command following his appointment after the retirement of Controller H.K.A. Abubakar, describing the N2.26 billion seizure, coming shortly after his assumption of office, as a strong signal of continuity and strengthened partnership.
Achema said the interception sends a clear warning to drug trafficking networks that security agencies at Lekki Port are more determined than ever to disrupt their operations.
He recalled that the latest seizure follows other major interceptions at the port, including two containers of illicit pharmaceutical opioids — Tramadol 225 and Tramaking Royal 250 — weighing 46 tonnes with an estimated street value of N35 billion.
The NDLEA Commander attributed the Agency’s operational successes to the strategic leadership of its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), whose approach focuses on disrupting, dismantling and defeating drug trafficking networks.
He assured that the NDLEA remains committed to sustained surveillance, intelligence sharing and joint operations to ensure Lekki Port continues to serve as a gateway for legitimate commerce, not illicit drugs.
Security analysts say the Lekki interception demonstrates how modern port security relies on a tripod of intelligence, technology and collaboration. With large cargo volumes making 100% physical examination impractical, risk-based targeting, scanning and joint verification have become critical tools.
The joint examination also reflects the complementary mandates of the agencies: Customs in border control and cargo enforcement, NDLEA in narcotics investigation, DSS in intelligence and NAFDAC in regulation of controlled substances.
The exhibits are now in NDLEA custody for further investigation aimed at tracing the shippers, consignees and cartel behind the shipment.
For stakeholders in the maritime supply chain, the message from both agencies is unequivocal: Lekki Port will continue to facilitate legitimate trade, but any attempt to use it for illicit drug trafficking will be met with determined, intelligence-driven enforcement.
The Customs briefing describes the substance as suspected Cannabis sativa, commonly known as “Loud,” while the NDLEA remarks refer to it as suspected Cannabis indica reportedly from Thailand. The precise species and origin are yet to be officially confirmed. The substance should therefore be described as suspected cannabis pending laboratory confirmation and official communication from the relevant agencies.*
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