Customs Intercepts 16 Containers Loaded with N10bn Worth of Firearms, Fake Drugs,Other Contraband in Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 16 containers loaded with prohibited items — including firearms, ammunition, counterfeit drugs, and other contraband — worth an estimated ₦10 billion at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.
Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi disclosed the seizures during a media briefing on Sunday, describing them as the result of coordinated intelligence and joint security operations.
Among the discoveries were two pump-action rifles, 25 cartridges, one Smith & Wesson pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, and 202 cans of Colorado Loud — a potent Canadian strain of cannabis weighing a total of 101kg. The haul was concealed in a 40-foot container (MRSU6407089) consigned to a Lagos-based recipient, Mr. Babatunde Ogidiolu.
Adeniyi said the container had initially passed clearance before a secondary inspection exposed the hidden cargo.
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Further checks uncovered seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medicaments, three containers of expired margarine and other food items, and three containers of banned used clothing.
Over the weekend, Customs also seized two 40-foot containers filled with 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry products each, as well as a container carrying 305 cartons of counterfeit toothpaste concealed with beads and jalabiya clothing. The toothpaste shipment, he noted, infringed on a Nigerian brand’s intellectual property and lacked NAFDAC registration.
In another significant find, two containers traced through intelligence were discovered to contain codeine-based substances. Adeniyi revealed that the owners were linked to previous drug seizures, prompting further investigations.
“We have deployed technology, intelligence, and inter-agency collaboration to maintain a balance across our enforcement mandates,” Adeniyi said. “The results over the last two years justify our strategy.”
The NCS confirmed that all seized items are now in custody, with ongoing investigations to identify and prosecute the individuals behind the smuggling operations.
By PRNigeria
