The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 12 containers containing prohibited and restricted goods with a combined duty-paid value of ₦43.59 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Thursday during a briefing at the Apapa Area Command, saying the seizures were the result of sustained intelligence-led operations and improved cargo profiling.
Among the intercepted items were 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg, equivalent to more than 7.6 tonnes, and 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a container carrying household items.
Customs also intercepted 108 high-definition dual-camera drones described as security-sensitive equipment. Adeniyi said such equipment could pose security risks when imported without the required approvals, end-user certificates and other documentation.
The seizures further included 1,282 bales of used clothing and containers filled with expired tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies. Customs said the expired products posed potential risks to consumers because some were intended for human consumption or direct use on the body.
Adeniyi said the seizures reflected the changing methods used by smugglers, who increasingly conceal prohibited goods within otherwise legitimate consignments. He said narcotics could be hidden among automobile parts and food products, while controlled medicines and restricted equipment could be falsely declared as ordinary goods.
He explained that the Service had strengthened cargo profiling and risk assessment to identify high-risk consignments, while also improving cooperation with agencies including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and international security partners.
The Customs boss said the agency’s responsibilities extend beyond revenue collection to include protecting Nigeria’s supply chain, securing the country’s borders and ensuring the safety of goods entering the country.
He warned importers and operators involved in false declarations, concealment, undervaluation or the importation of prohibited goods that Customs would continue to target such activities, while assuring legitimate traders that compliant cargo would continue to receive facilitation.
The seized items are expected to be handed over to relevant government agencies, including the NDLEA and NAFDAC, for further investigation and necessary action.
