Tin Can Customs, NDLEA Intercept ₦16.6bn Cannabis Shipment Hidden In Imported Vehicles
Tin Can Customs, NDLEA Intercept ₦16.6bn Cannabis Shipment Hidden In Imported Vehicles
By Frank Odinukaeze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a massive consignment of Cannabis Indica worth an estimated ₦16.6 billion at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, dealing another major blow to international drug trafficking syndicates targeting Nigerian seaports.
The seizure involved 4,173.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis Indica concealed inside imported vehicles shipped from Canada in a 40-foot container.
Officials disclosed that the illicit substances were carefully hidden inside a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 in an attempt to evade routine port inspections. However, intelligence-led surveillance and coordinated operations between Customs and NDLEA officers led to the discovery.
Speaking during the inspection and handover of the seized drugs, the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, said the operation was carried out following credible intelligence received by the Command’s Enforcement Unit.
According to him, container HAMU 247034/8 was flagged for detailed examination after intelligence reports linked the shipment to suspicious activities.
“Upon physical examination of the container, officers uncovered 8,347 packages of Cannabis Indica hidden within the imported vehicles,” Onyeka said.
He noted that the interception reflects the growing desperation of transnational drug trafficking networks seeking to exploit Nigeria’s maritime corridors despite increased security measures at the ports.
“Only two weeks ago, we intercepted another shipment involving 4,729 kilogrammes of cannabis. The repeated attempts show that these criminal syndicates remain determined to infiltrate our ports and distribute dangerous substances within the country,” he stated.
Onyeka said the Tin Can Island Port Command would further intensify cargo profiling, surveillance operations, and intelligence-driven enforcement to frustrate smugglers and criminal elements operating through the maritime sector.
He warned that individuals found collaborating with traffickers, including insiders within the port environment, would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The Customs boss stressed that illicit drug trafficking poses a serious threat to national security and public safety, especially among young Nigerians, noting that substance abuse continues to fuel criminal activities and social instability.
He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for promoting stronger inter-agency cooperation, while acknowledging the support of NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), in sustaining intelligence-sharing efforts.
Speaking while receiving the seized consignment, NDLEA Director of Seaport Operations, Ibinabo ArchieAbia, revealed that the shipment had been under surveillance for several months before arriving in Lagos.
She explained that the container originated from Toronto, Canada, moved through Montreal, transited Morocco’s Tanger Med Port, and was eventually shipped to Nigeria.
According to ArchieAbia, the operation was coordinated by the NDLEA Marine Intelligence Unit and Tin Can Strategic Command with support from international law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the UK Home Office International Operations.
“The success of this operation demonstrates the importance of intelligence sharing and international collaboration in disrupting global drug trafficking networks,” she said.
She added that the seized drugs would undergo forensic analysis as investigations continue to identify and prosecute financiers, freight agents, and local collaborators connected to the illegal importation.
The latest seizure adds to a growing list of major drug interceptions at Nigerian ports in recent months, underscoring intensified efforts by security agencies to curb the flow of illicit narcotics into the country.
