Customs Seize ₦3.67bn Cannabis Hidden in Imported Vehicles, Spare Parts at Lagos Port
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command, has intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying suspected illicit drugs valued at an estimated ₦3.67 billion at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The substances, comprising Delta-8 cannabis-infused cookies and gummies as well as Cannabis Indica, were concealed among imported used vehicles and automobile spare parts, according to the command.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Oscar Ivara, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, attributing the interceptions to the vigilance of Customs officers and collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Ivara said the first container, identified as MSDU655132/0, was intercepted on September 2, 2026.
A joint 100 per cent physical examination conducted by officers of both agencies reportedly uncovered 890 packs of Delta-8 cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 598.08 kilogrammes.
The container also contained two used vehicles: a 2008 Mercedes-Benz and a 2012 Nissan Infiniti.
The second container, identified as SKU625643/6, was intercepted on September 16, 2026, with a physical examination revealing 1,207 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing 603.75 kilogrammes and estimated to have a street value of ₦3.62 billion.
According to Ivara, the second container also carried two used Toyota Sienna vehicles, two used Toyota Corolla vehicles and assorted used engine spare parts.
He said the combined seizures weighed 1,201.83 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of ₦3.67 billion.
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Ivara noted that concealing the substances among imported vehicles and automobile components demonstrated attempts by suspected smugglers to exploit containerised cargo and legitimate commercial shipments to move prohibited substances into the country.
He said the interceptions underscored the commitment of the NCS and the NDLEA to preventing the smuggling of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s seaports and protecting public health and national security.
The seized substances, he added, would be formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and other necessary actions within the agency’s statutory mandate.
“This partnership between the NCS and the NDLEA remains critical to identifying, intercepting and dismantling the activities of individuals and networks involved in drug trafficking,” Ivara said.
He commended officers of both agencies for their vigilance and professionalism, describing inter-agency collaboration as essential to combating smuggling and other transnational crimes.
The Customs spokesperson also warned individuals involved in the illegal importation of prohibited substances to desist from the practice, stressing that the command would sustain enforcement operations against smuggling.
According to him, the command would continue to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering, cargo examination and collaboration with relevant security and regulatory agencies to detect and prevent the movement of prohibited goods through the port.
He urged importers, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders and other maritime stakeholders to comply with applicable laws, import regulations and established procedures.
“Legitimate trade must not be used as a cover for criminal activities,” he added.
By PRNigeria
