The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 16 containers loaded with contraband, including hard drugs, arms, ammunition, expired pharmaceuticals, frozen poultry products, and counterfeit goods smuggled through Apapa port, with a duty paid value of over N10 billion.
The NCS reported that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures, with three already charged and remanded at Ikoyi Prison, while two are on administrative bail pending trial.
During the display of the seized containers and their contents to journalists yesterday at the APM Terminals Examination Bay in Apapa port, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the interception followed a series of intelligence-led operations and joint enforcement activities with other agencies, notably the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Adeniyi highlighted the most significant discoveries, including a 40-foot container, number MRSU6407089, initially cleared during inspection but later found to conceal 101 kilogrammes of Colorado (Canadian Loud), two pump-action rifles with 25 cartridges, a pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, and various accessories.
He said the consignee, Mr Babatunde Ogidiolu of Lagos, is under investigation.
Adeniyi also noted other seizures, such as seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medicaments; three containers of expired food items, including margarine; three containers of used clothing classified as absolutely prohibited; and two containers, each holding 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry products.
Additionally, a container with 305 cartons of counterfeit toothpaste concealed with beads and clothing, infringing a Nigerian company’s trademark and lacking NAFDAC registration, as well as two containers of expired chest and lung tablets without NAFDAC approval, were seized.
Furthermore, two newly tracked 40-foot containers loaded with codeine, linked to previous drug seizures, were confiscated.
Adeniyi stressed that many of the implicated importers appear to be operating in coordinated criminal networks, and he vowed that Customs would deepen cooperation with both local and international partners to dismantle such syndicates.
“We will not allow Nigeria to become a dumping ground for illicit drugs, fake goods, and dangerous imports. Our mandate to safeguard the nation from threats to peace and security is unwavering,” Adeniyi said.
He also reiterated the Service’s recent decision to halt the transfer of pharmaceutical containers to bonded terminals outside seaports, citing compliance failures by many operators.
He added that future operations would remain risk-led and intelligence-driven, backed by increased deployment of non-intrusive scanning technologies.
