The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted two containers filled with imported vehicles used to conceal illicit drugs valued at more than ₦5.3 billion at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Comptroller Frank Onyeka, Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Command, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, confirming that the seizures were made after weeks of coordinated intelligence and surveillance.
According to Onyeka, the first container, with number HLXU8500072, arrived from Montreal, Canada, and was flagged for inspection on September 4, 2025. Upon examination, officers uncovered 156 packets of Colorado Indica weighing 78 kilograms and 1.2 kilograms of Hashish Oil, all hidden inside four imported vehicles.
The second container, FANU312876/9, was intercepted on October 24, following another round of actionable intelligence. A thorough search revealed 2,081 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing 1,093 kilograms, and eight packages of Crystal Methamphetamine weighing eight kilograms, also concealed within the vehicles.
The total value of the intercepted narcotics was estimated at ₦5.304 billion. Onyeka confirmed that the seized items have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Command, has intercepted two containers of vehicles used to conceal illicit drugs worth over ₦5.3 billion,” Onyeka said. “All recovered substances have been transferred to the NDLEA for proper investigation and necessary legal action.”
He commended the NDLEA, Nigerian Navy, Police, and other security agencies for their collaboration during the operation. Onyeka also reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining vigilance against drug trafficking and other illicit trade activities at Nigerian ports.
Related Developments at PTML Command
In a separate operation, the Ports Terminal Multiservices Ltd. (PTML) Command reported the interception of several containers carrying unregistered medicines and arms, while also recording a strong revenue performance for the year.
Comptroller Joe Anani, who heads the PTML Command, revealed that the unit generated ₦350.3 billion between January and September 2025, representing 96.64% of the total revenue collected in 2024.
According to Anani, a 20-foot container falsely declared as supermarket goods was found to contain pharmaceutical products, while another 40-foot container declared as medical equipment actually held 6,262 cartons of antibiotics. Two additional containers carrying unregistered medicines were also seized—one of which contained a WE Tactical Airsoft pistol, two magazines, and 12 live rounds of ammunition.
He added that the seizures were the result of intelligence-led enforcement and were immediately handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for investigation.
The PTML Command also recorded significant revenue growth in the third quarter of 2025, generating ₦116.2 billion, up 34.3% compared to ₦86.5 billion in the same period last year.
Anani reaffirmed the Service’s dedication to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders, enhancing revenue collection, and supporting inter-agency cooperation to combat illegal trade across the country’s ports.
