NEWS
Nigeria Customs Intercepts 13 Containers of Expired Drugs, Codeine Syrup, Cannabis and Restricted Security Gear Worth ₦6.38 Billion at Apapa Port
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 13 containers loaded with prohibited, restricted and expired goods valued at approximately ₦6.38 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, in what officials described as one of the most significant enforcement operations recorded at the port in recent times.
The seizure followed intensified surveillance and enforcement activities by the Apapa Area Command, supported by intelligence gathering, advanced cargo scanning technology and targeted physical examination of suspicious shipments arriving at the port.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed the development during a press briefing held at APM Terminals, Apapa, where the intercepted containers and items were displayed.
Among the most alarming discoveries were large quantities of expired pharmaceutical products, which authorities say pose serious risks to public health.
Customs officials recovered expired medications including:
Mixagrip cold caplets
Ladinax tablets
Chloroquine injections
Diclofenac tablets
Investigations also uncovered large consignments of Hyegra 200 and Sildenafil Citrate, drugs often associated with regulated medical use.
In addition, 800 cartons of codeine syrup were discovered carefully concealed inside toilet cisterns and sanitary ware, suggesting a deliberate attempt to evade detection.
Further inspections exposed additional containers carrying codeine-based cough syrups hidden within everyday consumer products.
One container was found to contain 1,700 cartons of codeine cough syrup hidden among luxury food flasks, while another container held 1,575 cartons of CSMIX with codeine concealed within cartons of electric kettles.
Authorities believe the concealment tactics were designed to bypass routine port inspections and facilitate illegal entry of controlled substances into the country.
Customs officers also uncovered restricted security and tactical equipment within some of the containers.
The items included:
Bulletproof vests
Tactical helmets
Walkie-talkies
Tactical torches
Such equipment is classified as restricted imports and requires special authorization before entering the country.
Beyond pharmaceuticals and restricted equipment, the enforcement operation uncovered several containers loaded with expired food products, which could have found their way into Nigerian markets if not intercepted.
Items seized included:
Muffin cookie biscuits
36,000 cans of expired Primo energy drinks
Expired tomato paste branded St. Kelvin and De Truth
Officials warned that expired food imports represent serious risks to consumer safety and violate Nigeria’s import regulations.
The operation also exposed drug smuggling attempts involving 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing approximately 347.57 kilograms.
The illicit drugs were discovered hidden inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle that had been shipped within one of the containers.
According to Customs authorities, the combined duty-paid value of all seized goods stands at ₦6,381,237,988, making the operation one of the largest recent seizures recorded at the Apapa Port.
Officials emphasized that the importation of expired medicines and controlled substances poses severe dangers to public health and national security.
The Customs leadership warned that Nigerian ports will no longer serve as entry points for smugglers attempting to disguise illegal shipments as legitimate imports.
Authorities stressed that smugglers often rely on falsified documentation and concealment strategies to evade regulatory scrutiny, but the agency’s increasing use of intelligence and technology is making such tactics more difficult.
Customs authorities also highlighted the need to strengthen non-intrusive cargo inspection systems, noting that physical cargo examinations currently dominate port operations.
To improve efficiency and strengthen enforcement, the Nigeria Customs Service plans to expand cargo scanning technology across several major ports before the end of 2026.
Ports expected to benefit from the expansion include:
Apapa Port
Tin Can Island Port
Port Harcourt Port
Onne Port
Calabar Port
The deployment of additional scanning systems is expected to improve detection capabilities, reduce port congestion and speed up legitimate cargo clearance processes.
The Customs Service urged importers and traders to strictly comply with Nigeria’s import regulations and participate in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, which allows trusted and compliant businesses to enjoy faster cargo processing.
Authorities also indicated that the seized consignments are liable to forfeiture under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, while individuals connected to the shipments may face prosecution.
Customs officials emphasized that enforcement operations are targeted at criminal networks attempting to exploit Nigeria’s ports and are not directed at legitimate business operators who comply with the law.