Customs intercepts Canadian Loud, expired drugs worth ₦12.7bn at Apapa Port

The Apapa area command of the Nigeria customs service has intercepted a massive consignment of illicit drugs and expired medical products at the Apapa Port in Lagos, with an estimated combined value of ₦12.7 billion.

According to officials, the seizure involved 1.81 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, commonly referred to as Canadian Loud, as well as several expired pharmaceutical products concealed inside shipping containers.

The interception was confirmed by Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, the customs area controller for the Apapa Command who stated that the operation was made possible through intelligence gathering, advanced risk profiling, and cooperation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He explained that Customs officers, working alongside NDLEA operatives, discovered a 40-foot container filled with cannabis carefully hidden for illegal importation into Nigeria. He described the substance as a highly potent strain of cannabis with significant value in illicit drug markets.

Oshoba attributed the success of the operation to improved intelligence-driven enforcement and the use of modern scanning and profiling systems, adding that the agency remains committed to preventing criminal networks from using Nigeria’s busiest port as a channel for illegal goods.

In a related development, Customs also uncovered two additional 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products. Investigations revealed that the drugs expired between 2021 and 2023.

Authorities raised concerns that the expired medicines were allegedly intended to be relabelled and reintroduced into circulation, a practice they described as a serious public health risk.

The Customs chief noted that intelligence reports suggested the counterfeit scheme was aimed at distributing unsafe drugs to unsuspecting consumers across the country.

Apapa Port, being one of Nigeria’s major maritime entry points, has continued to serve as a hotspot for smugglers attempting to bring in prohibited substances, including narcotics and expired medical products.

The latest seizure adds to a series of recent enforcement actions.

In a separate incident, a federal high court in Lagos recently convicted a foreign vessel and its crew over the importation of cocaine into the country, reinforcing ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking through Nigerian ports.