Customs confiscate N12.7bn expired drugs, 1.8 tonnes of cannabis in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted expired pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦12.7 billion, alongside a large shipment of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) weighing about 1.8 tonnes.

The seizures were made during separate intelligence-driven operations in Lagos, as officers moved to block the illegal goods from entering the Nigerian market.

According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, the operations were carried out in coordination with other security and regulatory agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The statement explained that the seizures were achieved through credible intelligence and improved risk profiling systems.

According to him, the operations were carefully planned and executed based on intelligence sharing and collaboration with relevant agencies.

In one of the major seizures, officers of the Command intercepted a 40-foot container with number CAAU7569127. The container was found to be loaded with a large quantity of Cannabis Sativa, also known as “Canadian Loud”.

The Command disclosed that 3,639 sachets of the illicit substance were recovered from the container. Each sachet weighed 500 grams, bringing the total estimated weight to about 1,819 kilograms, which is approximately 1.81 tonnes.

Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as Cannabis Sativa. The drugs were hidden inside a black Toyota Nissan vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, as well as in bags and drums packed within the container.

In another operation, the Command also intercepted two 40-foot containers filled with expired pharmaceutical products. The items were allegedly meant for illegal relabelling and reintroduction into the Nigerian market.

The Command said the combined Duty Paid Value, DPV, of the expired drugs stands at ₦12,784,479,341.72. It described the attempted importation as economic sabotage and a serious threat to public health.

Speaking on the seizures, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba issued a strong warning to those involved in smuggling activities, urging them to desist from such crimes.

“Unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress.

“We have the intelligence, the technology and the resolve to identify and apprehend them. Anyone still contemplating these criminal acts should desist immediately, because the consequences will be swift, decisive and uncompromising,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Oshoba added that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas are under constant monitoring, noting that enforcement operations will remain intelligence-driven while still ensuring that legitimate trade is not affected.

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