Customs, NDLEA intercept 347.5kg of Canadian Loud concealed in imported vehicle at Apapa Port

By Joy Enamuna 

 

The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Port Command, in a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has intercepted 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle at the Apapa Port, Lagos.

The disclosure was made in a statement on Tuesday by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Apapa Port Command, Isah Sulaiman, a Chief Superintendent of Customs, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.

The illicit drug was discovered barely 24 hours after Oshoba received a World Customs Organisation Certificate of Merit. It was hidden in 13 bags inside one of four vehicles contained in a single import consignment that arrived at the port.

A breakdown of the seizure showed that 10 of the bags weighed 25 kilograms each, while one weighed 29 kilograms and the remaining two weighed 34.5 kilograms and 34 kilograms respectively, bringing the total to 347.5 kilograms.

The interception is the fourth major drug seizure jointly carried out by the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA at the Apapa Port in less than two months, reinforcing the command’s resolve that no cargo, whether import or export, would pass through the port without thorough examination.

Reacting to the development, Oshoba warned that attempts by criminal elements to traffic prohibited items through the Apapa Port would continue to be detected and frustrated, noting that the command remained vigilant and resolute in its duty to protect society and national security.

He attributed the success to the strong inter-agency collaboration promoted by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, saying intelligence sharing and joint operations had helped officers consistently outmaneuver smuggling networks within the maritime sector.

Oshoba added that the upcoming deployment of a high-capacity drive-through scanner capable of scanning 200 containers per hour would further strengthen technology-driven anti-smuggling operations at the port.

In line with standard operating procedures, the seized 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of those involved.

The latest interception also builds on the recognition earlier accorded to Oshoba and the NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander, Mohammed Tukur, who were both awarded the World Customs Organisation Certificate of Merit on January 26, 2026, in Abuja during activities marking the International Customs Day.

The seizure, according to the statement, aligns with the 2026 International Customs Day theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment,” as the command reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to combat illicit activities.