The interception of 400kg of suspected cannabis hidden inside a shipment of printing paper at Lekki Deep Sea Port has highlighted the role of intelligence gathering and cargo screening in detecting illicit goods moving through Nigeria’s maritime trade routes.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, said the 40-foot container contained 400 packages of the suspected drug concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing paper, with a stated duty-paid value of ₦2.26bn.

The container, marked PRSU1562064, was intercepted on August 19, 2026, following intelligence received by Customs officers. The exhibits were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday, October 15, for further investigation.

The operation involved Customs, the NDLEA, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and Lekki Freeport Terminal.

How intelligence led to the interception

Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, said officers flagged the container after receiving credible intelligence about its contents.

According to him, the shipment had arrived at Lekki Deep Sea Port and was scheduled for transfer by barge to a bonded terminal outside the Command under Customs’ transire procedure.

The Command diverted the container for further scrutiny after identifying potential security risks. A scan subsequently revealed anomalies, leading to a full physical examination involving the relevant agencies.

The examination uncovered seven pallets containing the suspected cannabis packages concealed inside the printing paper.

The use of ordinary commercial goods as concealment illustrates the screening challenge facing port authorities: suspicious shipments may require closer examination even when their declared cargo appears legitimate.

Customs: Drug trafficking will not be tolerated

Kukoyi said the seizure demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led enforcement, scanning technology and cooperation among security agencies.

“This is not merely about 400kg valued at over N2.26bn. It is a significant victory for public safety and national security,” he said.

He warned that illicit drugs contribute to addiction, organised crime, insecurity, family disintegration and the erosion of human capital.

Kukoyi also commended the officers involved in the operation and acknowledged the contributions of the NDLEA Lekki Port Command, DSS, NAFDAC and Lekki Freeport Terminal.

He credited the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, with promoting collaboration, consolidation and innovation in the Service’s enforcement activities.

“As Acting Controller, our commitment to facilitating legitimate trade must never be misconstrued as tolerance for illegality. We maintain zero tolerance for smuggling and drug trafficking,” Kukoyi said.

He added: “Our intelligence network is active and our enforcement resolve is unwavering.”

Also Read: NSCDC Links Telecom Mast Vandalism Suspect to Two Other Sites in Anambra 

NDLEA warns maritime drug traffickers

Receiving the seized exhibits, Commander of Narcotics at the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, Jonah Achema, said the operation demonstrated the agencies’ readiness to strengthen their collaboration against drug trafficking.

Achema congratulated Kukoyi on his appointment following the retirement of Comptroller H.K.A. Abubakar.

He said the seizure, recorded shortly after Kukoyi assumed office, sent a warning to those attempting to use maritime routes to move illicit drugs.

“This sends appropriate message to unscrupulous maritime drug criminals that their operations will only end in the drag net,” Achema said.

Achema described the consignment as a significant seizure and referred to the substance as 400kg of Cannabis Indica from Thailand. Customs, however, identified the seized substance as Cannabis Sativa in its account of the operation.

The agencies’ descriptions differ, and the substance’s precise classification and origin were not independently established in the information released at the briefing.

Previous opioid seizure valued at ₦35bn

Achema also cited an earlier seizure involving two containers of pharmaceutical opioids, including Tramadol 225 and Tramaking Royal 250.

According to him, the consignments weighed 46 tonnes and had an estimated street value of ₦35bn.

He said the latest operation aligned with the NDLEA’s strategy under its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd.), to disrupt and dismantle drug-trafficking networks.

“This container was to be flown even above the Port but was stepped down for 100% examination upon credible intelligence. The Command has almost made Lekki Port impervious for illicit drug shipments,” Achema said.

He pledged continued cooperation with Customs and other security agencies to prevent illicit substances from entering the country through the port.

What the seizure means for port security

Lekki Deep Sea Port is an important part of Nigeria’s maritime trade infrastructure, making effective cargo inspection relevant to both commercial activity and national security.

The latest interception demonstrates how intelligence can trigger additional screening and lead to the discovery of concealed consignments. However, the operation alone does not establish how frequently similar shipments evade detection or how effective screening is across the port system as a whole.

For importers, shipping companies, clearing agents and terminal operators, the agencies’ message was that legitimate trade must be protected while suspicious cargo is subjected to appropriate checks.

Both Customs and the NDLEA urged port operators, shipping companies, clearing agents, importers and members of the public to provide timely, credible information that could assist enforcement operations.

They stressed that ports should remain gateways for economic growth rather than routes for criminal activity.

The NDLEA is expected to continue its investigation following the transfer of the seized exhibits. The agencies did not identify any suspect or announce an arrest in the information provided about the operation.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State says a 39-year-old man arrested over the alleged vandalism of an IHS-MTN telecommunications mast in Awka has confessed to targeting two other sites.

The suspect, identified as Anuba Lucky Chisom from Amaputa, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, was arrested at about 4am on Thursday, October 15, near Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s temporary site in Okpuno, Awka South LGA.

The corps said its operatives recovered vandalised cables and other mast components from the suspect at the scene.

How the suspect was arrested

The NSCDC Anambra State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, said the arrest followed intelligence received during a routine patrol by the command’s anti-vandalism operatives.

According to the command, the information indicated unusual movement inside an IHS-MTN mast identified by site number IHS ANA 0888A, near the palace of the traditional ruler of Okpuno.

The operatives moved to the location and apprehended the suspect, the commandant said while presenting him at the state headquarters in Awka.

NSCDC suspects wider vandalism network

The command said preliminary investigations suggested that the suspect belonged to a syndicate allegedly responsible for a rise in vandalism incidents across Anambra State.

It added that Chisom had voluntarily confessed to vandalising two other sites before his arrest, attributing his actions to unemployment.

The claims have yet to be tested in court, and the suspect’s alleged involvement in other incidents remains subject to investigation.

The command did not identify the other two sites or provide details about when the alleged offences occurred.

Also Read: Nigeria Customs Seizes Unregistered Medicines, Cannabis in Ogun 

Why telecom infrastructure vandalism matters

Telecommunications masts and their supporting equipment help sustain mobile voice calls, internet access and other communication services.

Damage to such infrastructure can disrupt connectivity for residents and businesses, while repairs and equipment replacement can increase operating costs for telecom companies. The extent of any damage or service disruption at the affected Awka site was not disclosed.

The incident also highlights the importance of protecting critical infrastructure that supports communication, commerce and access to digital services.

However, the command did not provide figures on the frequency of telecom infrastructure vandalism in Anambra or the financial losses associated with recent incidents.

NSCDC warns vandals as investigation continues

Olatunde commended the operatives involved in the arrest and warned that the corps would not tolerate the destruction of critical national, state and local government assets.

He also cautioned against using unemployment as justification for criminal activity, warning alleged vandals and economic saboteurs that the command would intensify efforts to apprehend them.

The command urged residents to provide timely and credible information that could help security agencies prevent infrastructure vandalism and identify those responsible.

Olatunde has directed a thorough investigation into the case, after which the suspect is expected to be charged in court.

The NSCDC did not disclose whether other suspects had been arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism network.

The Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted 27,831 pieces of unregistered medicines and 4,013 wraps of cannabis among 43 seizures worth more than ₦3.15 billion recorded by its Ogun I Area Command within 15 days of a change in leadership.

The seizures also included 321 military camouflage face caps, foreign rice, imported pasta, used vehicles and other goods, according to the command’s Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim.

Ibrahim disclosed the figures on 15 October 2026 during his maiden press briefing at the command headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State, highlighting the intersection of border enforcement, public health concerns and the fight against illicit trade.

Unregistered medicines raise public health concerns

Among the seizures highlighted by Ibrahim was a 10-tyre truck intercepted on 11 October. A physical examination reportedly revealed 27,831 items of different unregistered medicines and related products, including codeine cough syrup, injections, eye drops and supplements without National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration numbers.

The command also intercepted 321 army camouflage face caps in the same operation.

Ibrahim said the two categories of goods, although different in nature, represented serious concerns for national security, public safety and human well-being.

The seizure of medicines without NAFDAC registration numbers raises questions about the movement of unregistered pharmaceutical products through border routes and the need for effective regulatory oversight. However, the absence of a registration number alone does not establish the safety or composition of each product.

The command did not provide a breakdown of the medicines by type, quantity per category or estimated value, nor did it disclose whether laboratory testing had been conducted.

Also Read: JMG Solar Projects Target ₦152m in Annual Diesel Savings 

Customs intercepts three trucks carrying foreign pasta

Another major operation occurred on 2 October, when a patrol team intercepted three trucks at about 4:30am following what Ibrahim described as intelligence-led surveillance.

The trucks were taken to the command headquarters in Idiroko for physical examination under Section 227 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

According to the controller, the first truck, a Sino Howo with registration number MSW-232-XA, contained 2,740 cartons of foreign Siddo pasta concealed with 500 cartons of Oki condensed milk.

A second Howo truck, with registration number TFA-674-XA, was found carrying 6,000 units of foreign Ginny pasta, while an Iveco Elco truck with registration number KMC-702-ZR contained 6,500 units of foreign Doga pasta.

The command also reported intercepting a Dangote truck on 4 October along the Afamin-Dangote-Itori axis. The vehicle, with registration number FZE-552-DA, was allegedly conveying 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice concealed beneath mica and gypsum stones.

The operations form part of the command’s reported efforts to prevent the movement of prohibited imports and enforce compliance with applicable trade regulations.

Cannabis seizure to be handed over to NDLEA

The command listed 4,013 wraps of cannabis sativa and one wrap of Canadian Loud among the seized items.

It also reported recovering 950 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), 660 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, four bundles of used pneumatic tyres and 106 bales of second-hand clothing.

Other items included 1,320 pieces of smuggled new shoes, 3,700 used shoes, 252 imported face caps and 1,250 foreign-used bags.

The seizure list further included 13 foreign-used vehicles, comprising cars and sport utility vehicles of different makes and model years.

Ibrahim said the cannabis would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, for further action.

The NDLEA commander in Idiroko and heads of other security agencies attended the briefing, according to the Customs Service.

The planned handover reflects the role of inter-agency cooperation in addressing drug-related offences and other cross-border security concerns.

Five trucks valued at ₦1.235 billion face forfeiture

Ibrahim said the five trucks involved in the highlighted interceptions had a combined value of ₦1.235 billion and would be forfeited to the Federal Government in line with Section 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The command did not provide a separate valuation for every category of seized goods in the briefing.

It put the total duty-paid value (DPV) of all 43 seizures at ₦3,153,591,000.

The command also did not disclose the number of arrests, prosecutions or convictions connected with the operations.

New controller promises intelligence-led enforcement

Ibrahim said he assumed leadership of the command on 29 September and had pledged to intensify efforts against smuggling and economic sabotage.

He said the command had increased surveillance, deployed intelligence and strengthened collaboration with sister security agencies and community stakeholders since his assumption of office.

“As promised, we have intensified surveillance, deployed strategic intelligence, strengthened collaboration with sister agencies and community stakeholders to enhance border operations. These deliberate efforts have resulted in Forty-three (43) seizures within the space of 15 days that I assumed the leadership of this Command,” he said.

He added that his initial message to suspected smugglers was that the command would not tolerate economic sabotage and would enforce existing trade laws through a firm, fair and intelligence-driven approach.

Ibrahim attributed the operations to the commitment of officers and men of the command, as well as cooperation from other security agencies, traditional institutions and young people in border communities.

He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and support.

“For emphasis, the seizure of Cannabis Sativa is particularly worrisome, given its far-reaching impact on our youth, public health and national security,” he said.

“These seizures highlight our zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling. We are removing illicit goods to safeguard public health and support local producers. Under the leadership of CGC Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, our Command is fully equipped and strategically deployed to neutralize illegal trade and dismantle smuggling operations across the region,” he added.

He further praised Customs officers for their efforts despite operational challenges and acknowledged the contributions of sister agencies and community stakeholders.

“On a final note, it is my pleasure to commend the media for their objectivity and patriotism reflected in their reportage,” he added.

What happens next?

The planned transfer of the cannabis to the NDLEA and the proposed forfeiture of the five trucks are among the next steps identified by the command.

The seizures also raise broader questions about how border enforcement translates into successful prosecutions, the disruption of illicit supply chains and the protection of consumers from potentially unsafe products.

While the command’s figures provide an account of its operations during Ibrahim’s first 15 days in office, further information on arrests, court proceedings, product testing and the final disposition of the seized goods would help establish the wider impact of the crackdown.

For now, the Ogun I Area Command says it will continue to use intelligence, surveillance and cooperation with other agencies to combat smuggling along its area of responsibility.