Customs Hands Over ₦3.95bn Narcotics, Three Suspects to NDLEA in Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, has handed over narcotics with a combined value of ₦3.951 billion and three suspects linked to the seizures to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Unit also handed over four cylinders of high-grade mercury to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for appropriate regulatory action.
The Comptroller of FOU Zone ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during the formal handover of the seized items at the Unit’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.
Aliyu said the seizures were made during sustained anti-smuggling operations targeting drug trafficking networks along border corridors, major highways and other strategic locations within the Unit’s area of responsibility.
According to him, the seized narcotics comprised 5,669 parcels and 19 sacks of synthetic cannabis sativa weighing 3,116.9kg; three-and-a-half packs of ground cannabis, commonly known as skunk, weighing 3.45kg; two packs of granulated skunk weighing 1kg; 11 smaller packs weighing 0.35kg; 49 wraps weighing 26.1kg; and one wrap of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.
The consignment also included 1,754 packs and 6,948 sachets of Tramadol tablets in 225mg and 100mg doses, 1,200 Hypnox 1mg tablets and 97 bottles of codeine syrup.
Three suspects arrested in connection with the seizures were also transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
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The Customs comptroller warned about the broader implications of illicit drug trafficking, saying the movement of controlled substances posed serious threats to public health, national security and the wellbeing of young people.
“The illicit movement of cannabis sativa and other controlled substances poses a serious threat to public health, national security and the future of our young people. Such substances fuel addiction, criminality, violence and other social problems,” Aliyu said.
He further disclosed that four cylinders of high-grade mercury, each weighing 34.5kg, were intercepted along the Lagos-Abeokuta corridor and subsequently handed over to NESREA.
Aliyu described mercury as an environmentally hazardous substance with dual uses, noting that its movement is subject to international controls under the Minamata Convention.
“This item has dual purposes, it has significant environmental hazards and it is controlled by MINAMATA CONVENTION,” he said.
The Customs official stressed the need for sustained inter-agency collaboration in tackling smuggling and trans-border criminality, noting that the increasingly complex nature of such crimes required coordinated action by relevant security and regulatory agencies.
> “No single agency can effectively confront the complex nature of contemporary smuggling and trans-border criminality alone. Our collaboration must therefore continue through information sharing, joint operations, coordinated intelligence, capacity building and prompt transfer of items that fall within the jurisdiction of partner agencies,” he added.
The narcotics and mercury were formally handed over to representatives of the NDLEA and NESREA respectively.
The two agencies commended the NCS for its continued collaboration with sister agencies and its efforts to disrupt smuggling networks and other forms of trans-border criminality.
By PRNigeria
