Customs Seizes ₦2.26bn Cannabis at Lekki Port, Deepen Security Ties Ahead of Elections
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 400 kilogrammes of suspected illicit cannabis valued at ₦2.26 billion at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, while intensifying intelligence-sharing and security collaboration with sister agencies across the Southwest to combat smuggling and other criminal activities.
The two initiatives reflect the Service’s efforts to prevent the entry of prohibited substances, strengthen border security and disrupt criminal networks that threaten public health and national security, particularly as preparations for future elections heighten concerns over the potential movement of illicit goods.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lekki Free Trade Zone Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Olufemi Kukoyi, disclosed the seizure to journalists on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in Lekki, warning that the port would not be allowed to serve as a gateway for prohibited goods.
Kukoyi said officers intercepted a suspicious container, with registration number PRSU1562064, on August 19, 2026, as it was being moved to a bonded terminal outside the Command’s jurisdiction.
He explained that enforcement officers subjected the container to a joint examination after identifying potential security risks.
The inspection reportedly uncovered 400 packages of suspected Cannabis Sativa, weighing 400 kilogrammes, concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing paper.
The seized substance has a Customs-assessed Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦2,262,960,000.
Kukoyi described the interception as a significant operational success that would help protect Nigerians from the harmful consequences of illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
In line with established procedures, the Customs Command formally handed over the seized substance to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and appropriate action.
Receiving the consignment, the Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, Commander Jonah Achema, described the seizure as a major interception and warned maritime drug traffickers that security agencies were strengthening their coordinated efforts against narcotics trafficking.
Achema said the seizure followed other significant interceptions at the port, including two containers of illicit pharmaceutical opioids identified as Tramadol 225 and Tramaking Royal 250, with a combined weight of 46 tonnes and an estimated street value of ₦35 billion.
He described the latest handover as another indication of the importance of sustained inter-agency cooperation in preventing illicit substances from entering the country.
Beyond the interception at Lekki, the Customs Service is also strengthening intelligence-sharing arrangements with other security agencies across the Southwest.
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The Acting Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Oladapo Afeni, began a familiarisation tour of sister security agencies on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as part of efforts to consolidate the Unit’s anti-smuggling operations and improve regional security coordination.
During a visit to the Lagos State Police Command, Afeni said the Unit was committed not only to securing the country’s borders but also to reinforcing existing partnerships with agencies responsible for protecting national security.
He expressed concern that criminal activities could intensify as elections approach, with illicit substances potentially being smuggled into the country for purposes capable of undermining public order.
“We know crime rate always move up when election is near and people will want to bring in unwanted substances that they feel can cause crisis during election. So, we are here to call for synergy for these bad guys not to have their way,” Afeni said.
He noted that the longstanding relationship between the Customs Service and other security agencies could be strengthened by leveraging the Nigeria Police Force’s intelligence-gathering capabilities to identify and disrupt criminal networks.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, described the visit as a continuation of the established cooperation among security agencies, which he said had contributed to operational successes across the state.
Fatai said the agencies maintained a strong working relationship despite the security and law-enforcement challenges associated with Lagos State’s large population.
He stressed that coordinated efforts remained essential to sustaining public safety and ensuring that security agencies effectively discharged their respective responsibilities.
Afeni also visited the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division, where the General Officer Commanding, Major General Adebayo Babalola, underscored the importance of joint operations and direct communication between security formations.
Babalola encouraged the Customs Service to maintain close contact with the nearest military formations to facilitate timely operational support and improve responses to emerging security threats.
Other agencies visited during the familiarisation tour included the NDLEA Lagos State Strategic Command and Headquarters 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, among others.
The engagements reaffirmed the participating agencies’ commitment to sustained intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement and joint action against smuggling, drug trafficking and other criminal activities capable of threatening national security.
The twin developments highlight the growing importance of inter-agency collaboration in Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly in addressing the interconnected challenges of illicit drug trafficking, cross-border criminality and threats to public order.
By combining targeted enforcement operations with stronger intelligence-sharing mechanisms, the Customs Service and its security partners aim to deny criminal networks access to critical trade corridors and strengthen efforts to protect public health and national security.
By PRNigeria
