Nigeria Customs Intercepts ₦18.96bn Cannabis Hidden In Imported Vehicles

Nigeria Customs Intercepts ₦18.96bn Cannabis Hidden in Imported Vehicles The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted cannabis worth ₦18.96 billion concealed inside imported vehicles at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, in one of the country’s largest recent anti-drug seizures. Customs officials disclosed that the illicit consignment, consisting of 9,450 packages of cannabis, was discovered during an intelligence-driven joint security operation involving multiple law-enforcement agencies. According to authorities, the drugs were smuggled into Nigeria from Canada, carefully hidden within imported vehicles in an attempt to evade routine inspection procedures. The seizure followed weeks of surveillance and profiling of suspicious cargo shipments arriving at the port. Customs operatives conducted detailed examinations using intelligence analysis and coordinated inspections that eventually uncovered the concealed narcotics.

Officials said the operation demonstrates growing collaboration among security agencies aimed at combating transnational drug trafficking networks using Nigeria’s seaports. The Comptroller General of Customs reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders and preventing the country from becoming a transit hub for illegal drugs. Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify importers, clearing agents, and criminal syndicates connected to the shipment. Suspects linked to the consignment are expected to face prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-drug trafficking laws once investigations are concluded. The seized cannabis will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation, profiling, and destruction procedures in line with national regulation Security experts have warned that drug traffickers are increasingly adopting sophisticated concealment methods, including hiding narcotics inside vehicles, industrial equipment, and containerised imports. The latest interception underscores renewed enforcement efforts by Nigerian authorities to strengthen port security, disrupt organised crime networks, and curb the inflow of illicit substances into the country. The Customs Service noted that intelligence-based enforcement remains central to safeguarding public health, preventing drug abuse, and protecting national security. Officials also urged importers and freight operators to comply with regulations, warning that stricter inspections and surveillance measures will continue across Nigeria’s ports ahead of future operations.