The Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted more than 7.6 tonnes of cannabis, 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup and other prohibited or expired goods at the Apapa Area Command in Lagos.

The seizures, which the service displayed to journalists on Monday, included three containers carrying a combined 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg.

The Customs Service said the seized goods had a combined duty-paid value of ₦43.59bn.

Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, who addressed journalists during the display, said the seizures demonstrated that the agency’s responsibilities extend beyond revenue collection to national security and the protection of consumers.

Cannabis, codeine among major seizures

According to the Customs Service, one 40-foot container, identified as HAMU 3086682, contained 4,777 parcels of cannabis weighing 2,388.5kg, alongside automobile spare parts, coffee mix, oats and three vehicles.

Another 40-foot container, FANU 1933352, was said to contain 8,287 parcels of cannabis weighing 4,145kg and three vehicles.

The third narcotics container, MSKU 3941778, contained 2,181 parcels of cannabis weighing 1,090.5kg, Customs said.

The container also contained foreign parboiled rice, automobile spare parts, lithium batteries, a PV combiner box, turmeric and fish products.

A separate 40-foot container, TCKU 7653306, was found with 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup concealed beneath household items, according to the service.

The seizures were made at the Apapa port, one of Nigeria’s busiest gateways for international trade.

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Why the codeine seizure matters

Adeniyi said the scale of the codeine interception was particularly concerning because of the potential consequences of the illicit trade in controlled substances.

“A single container of this size would have supplied that trade for a considerable period.”

He said the abuse of prohibited substances such as codeine had remained a national concern because of its links to violent behaviour, family disruption and loss of productive lives.

The Customs chief said the agency’s enforcement responsibilities under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 include preventing prohibited and uncustoms-controlled goods from entering the country.

Customs intercepts drones

The command also displayed 108 high-definition dual-camera drones extracted from another intercepted container.

Adeniyi said drones had legitimate uses but could pose security risks when imported without the necessary approvals and documentation.

He said equipment capable of surveillance, reconnaissance or other security applications required appropriate regulatory clearance.

“Restricted and security sensitive equipment requires the appropriate security approvals, end-user certificates and documentation before clearance,” he said.

The Customs chief warned importers that consignments arriving without the required documentation would be detained.

“Our ports will not be a route through which capability reaches those who are working against the security of this country.”

Expired food, medical products intercepted

Customs also reported the interception of five containers containing expired products.

They included tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.

The service said the products could expose consumers to potential health risks because they were expired before being imported into the country.

Adeniyi said consumers, particularly children and women, could have little way of identifying such risks when products enter the market without adequate regulatory controls.

The Customs Service said some of the seized items had been handed over to relevant government agencies for further action.

Used clothes among seized goods

The operation also resulted in the interception of 1,282 bales of used clothing across three containers.

Customs listed the containers as MRKU 6185100, containing 425 bales; MRKU 5535966, containing 435 bales; and SEKU 4685299, containing 422 bales.

Other seized items included assorted automobile spare parts and other undeclared or restricted goods.

Customs promises faster legitimate trade

While announcing the seizures, Adeniyi sought to distinguish the enforcement operation from the service’s responsibility to facilitate legitimate imports.

He urged businesses engaged in lawful trade to continue their activities, saying Customs would maintain efforts to ensure the movement of legitimate cargo.

“Scrutiny will fall on the consignments, transactions and operators that present identifiable risk.”

He warned importers involved in false declarations, concealment, undervaluation or the importation of prohibited goods that Customs would continue to target such practices.

“No port, border station or logistics channel will be permitted to serve as a safe haven.”

The Comptroller-General commended officers of the Apapa Area Command and acknowledged the cooperation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and international partners.

Maritime journalists have honoured the outgoing Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, praising his accessibility, professionalism and approach to combating smuggling.

Members of the Network of Nigerian Maritime Journalists (NNMJ) paid a farewell visit to Aliyu at his office in Lagos on Wednesday, where they presented him with a token of appreciation for his relationship with the media and his work at the unit.

Aliyu used the occasion to disclose that FOU Zone ‘A’ had generated and recovered more than ₦2 billion for the Federation Account in nine months, describing the figure as about five times the unit’s annual revenue target.

He also said officers of the unit intercepted more than 21,000 bags of smuggled rice, equivalent to about 35 truckloads, during the period.

Customs cites intelligence-led operations

Aliyu attributed the reported seizures and revenue recovery to the commitment of Customs officers, support from the management of the service and a growing reliance on intelligence.

“Our approach to tackling smuggling has been deliberate and targeted, relying heavily on intelligence-driven operations rather than random actions.”

He said the unit also intercepted illicit drugs and other prohibited items during its operations, although the statement did not provide further details on those seizures.

The controller’s comments come amid the wider efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service to curb smuggling and protect government revenue at Nigeria’s borders and points of entry.

Aliyu: Media is a strategic partner

The outgoing controller also stressed the role of journalists in reporting smuggling and other economic crimes.

“We view journalists as strategic partners and critical allies in our fight against crime and smuggling—a challenge no single agency can tackle alone.”

Aliyu said Customs was continuing to work to suppress smuggling but would require cooperation from other stakeholders, particularly the media, to achieve lasting results.

He also referred to his previous experience in the media while acknowledging the journalists who attended the farewell.

“On a personal note, as a former member of the press, I am incredibly proud to stand alongside you.”

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Why maritime journalists honoured Aliyu

NNMJ Chairman, Elder Dele Aderibigbe, said the farewell was significant because the journalists had not gathered to cover a Customs event but to recognise an officer they regarded as a professional partner.

“Controller Gambo Aliyu, we came here today just to say that we are incredibly proud of you.”

Aderibigbe described journalists as watchdogs of society, acknowledging that their work could sometimes make public officials and other stakeholders uncomfortable.

He said the press’s primary responsibility remained the pursuit of truth, while urging Aliyu to maintain his principles after leaving his current position.

“Please hold fast to your convictions, sir. Remember that your most loyal allies—those who will never fail you—are the dedicated men and women of the press.”

Aderibigbe also called on other Customs officers to emulate Aliyu’s approach to leadership and public duty.

‘Controller Gambo keeps his word’

Chairman of the NNMJ Advisory Board, Sesan Onileimo, also praised Aliyu’s integrity, recalling an encounter in December in which the controller made a commitment that he later fulfilled.

“I left and told my colleagues not to worry because we were in safe hands. I want to sincerely thank you for what you have done.”

Onileimo said keeping promises despite challenges was an important indication of integrity and said Aliyu had built a strong relationship with maritime journalists.

“If 200 journalists in Lagos can say, ‘Controller Gambo is our friend,’ what more proof do you need?”

He said the journalists’ gesture was not intended to seek favours but to recognise the controller’s conduct and relationship with the media.

“From what we have as journalists, we brought a small token of appreciation. Thank you for being a true friend to the media and for always keeping your word.”

What the figures mean

The revenue and seizure figures disclosed by Aliyu provide an indication of the scale of FOU Zone ‘A’s anti-smuggling activities during the nine-month period.

However, the figures were presented by the outgoing controller at the farewell event and were not independently verified in the statement.

The broader effectiveness of anti-smuggling operations can also be measured by factors such as the volume and value of seizures, revenue recovered, prosecution of offenders and the extent to which illicit trade is disrupted.

For businesses and legitimate traders, the Customs Service’s enforcement activities remain important because smuggling can affect government revenue and create an uneven playing field for compliant importers.

The Nigeria Customs Service Board has confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller-General and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals as the service reviews its 2026 revenue performance.

The decisions were taken at the Board’s 65th Regular Meeting on 2 September 2026, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Professor Taiwo Oyedele.

The Board said the appointments followed the statutory retirement of some officers and were made in line with the Federal Character Policy under Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

The newly confirmed Deputy Comptroller-General is Constantine Dim from the South-East.

The five confirmed Assistant Comptroller-Generals are Pascal Chibuoke and Ethelbert Nnaji, both from the South-East; Sani Yahaya from the North-Central; and Franklin Onyeka and Chibuzor Eyakwaire from the South-South.

Customs revenue reaches ₦4.3tn

The Board also reviewed the Nigeria Customs Service’s revenue performance against its ₦11.074tn target for 2026.

As of the end of June, the service had collected ₦4.30tn, equivalent to 36.4% of its annual target.

The figure means Customs had collected more than one-third of its full-year target halfway through the year, although the Board did not state whether collections were ahead or behind its internal mid-year projection.

The service said it had intensified revenue mobilisation through the full deployment of its Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, as well as expanded post-clearance and real-time audits.

Other measures include the Authorised Economic Operator and advance ruling programmes, geospatial technology, joint border patrols and increased engagement with the trading community.

“The Service remains committed to accountability, institutional strengthening, and sustained revenue mobilisation.” — Nigeria Customs Service

Medical unit upgraded

The Board approved the elevation of the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corps to a sub-department.

It will be headed by an Assistant Comptroller-General and supported by nine Comptrollers.

The decision is part of wider institutional changes considered by the Board at the meeting.

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Customs recruitment screening to begin

The Board was also briefed on the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Customs Service.

Successful applicants have been invited for documentation, physical and medical screening, with the exercise scheduled to begin on 7 September 2026.

The recruitment process is expected to bring new personnel into the service as Customs continues its efforts to strengthen its operations.

Disciplinary cases reviewed

Several disciplinary appeals were also considered during the meeting.

According to the Board, the cases resulted in different decisions, including dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement and reinstatement.

No further details about the individual cases were provided in the statement.

Customs approves De-Minimis Regulation

The Board also approved the Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025, following a report by its Technical and Operations Committee.

The regulation is intended to align the de-minimis regime with provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

De-minimis arrangements generally concern low-value imports that may qualify for simplified customs treatment, making the rules relevant to traders and businesses involved in cross-border commerce.

Digital transformation continues

The Board said it had received updates on Customs’ digital transformation programme, with progress recorded in trade systems, human-resource automation, NII infrastructure and other digital applications.

It was also informed that the Federal Ministry of Finance had invited memoranda proposing amendments to the Nigeria Customs Service Act for possible consideration in the 2027 Finance Bill.

What happens next?

The immediate focus for the Nigeria Customs Service will include maintaining revenue collection, completing the recruitment screening process and strengthening digital and audit systems.

The service’s ability to meet its ₦11.074tn annual target will also remain an important indicator of its contribution to government revenue and the wider Nigerian economy.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly confirmed management officers on behalf of the Board.

He also reaffirmed the service’s commitment to accountability, institutional strengthening and sustained revenue mobilisation.