Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have recorded a major breakthrough against international drug trafficking with the interception of 30 slabs of cocaine weighing 30.1 kilograms at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure was made on Friday, January 2, 2026—the first working day of the new year—at the Greenview Terminal, Apapa. The illicit drugs were concealed onboard MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by transnational drug syndicates to exploit Nigeria’s busiest seaport.
Addressing journalists on the development, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, commended officers of both agencies for their vigilance, professionalism, and effective collaboration.
“This achievement reflects the strong inter-agency synergy between federal government entities and our commitment to intelligence-led enforcement,” Comptroller Oshoba stated. “While criminal elements seek to outsmart us, our officers remain one step ahead, ensuring no smuggling attempt—whether disguised as import, export, or transit cargo—succeeds under my watch.”
He described the interception as a strong statement for 2026, reaffirming the command’s zero-tolerance stance against illicit trade and its resolve to protect national security.
In line with established procedures, the seized cocaine has been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects linked to the consignment.
The latest seizure represents the third major drug interception recorded by the joint NCS–NDLEA team in recent weeks. Barely two weeks earlier, both agencies intercepted 25.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in five bags aboard another vessel following actionable intelligence. Similarly, on December 11, 2025, a massive 1,187 kilograms of “Canadian Loud”—a high-grade and expensive strain of cannabis—was seized after being concealed in imported vehicles within a 40-foot container at the port.
Comptroller Oshoba reiterated that the Apapa Area Command remains steadfast in balancing the facilitation of legitimate trade with its core responsibility of preventing smuggling and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
