Customs, NDLEA Smash New Year Cocaine Smuggling Plot at Apapa Port, Seize 30.1kg on Foreign Vessel

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has thwarted a major cocaine smuggling attempt at the Apapa Port, Lagos, intercepting 30.1 kilograms of the illicit drug concealed aboard a foreign vessel.

The seizure, which occurred on the first working day of 2026, followed credible intelligence that led operatives to MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands–flagged vessel berthed at the Greenview Terminal. The cocaine was discovered hidden onboard the ship and packaged in 30 slabs.

In a statement issued on Friday, January 2, 2026, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman, confirmed the interception, describing it as a product of intelligence-driven enforcement and effective inter-agency cooperation.
Commending officers involved in the operation, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the successful bust underscored the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking and other forms of illicit trade.

“This interception reflects the strength of our collaboration with sister agencies and our unwavering commitment to intelligence-led enforcement,” Comptroller Oshoba stated.
He warned smugglers and criminal syndicates that the Apapa Port would remain hostile terrain for illegal activities, stressing that the Command was determined to stay ahead of evolving smuggling tactics.

“While criminal elements continue to devise new methods, our officers remain one step ahead, ensuring that no smuggling attempt—whether disguised as import, export or transit cargo—succeeds under my watch,” he said.

Describing the seizure as a strong signal of renewed enforcement resolve in 2026, Oshoba reaffirmed the Apapa Command’s commitment to protecting national security while facilitating legitimate trade.

In accordance with established procedures, the seized cocaine has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects linked to the shipment.

The latest interception marks the third major drug seizure recorded by the joint NCS–NDLEA team in recent weeks. Barely two weeks earlier, both agencies intercepted 25.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in five bags aboard another vessel following actionable intelligence.
Similarly, on December 11, 2025, the joint task force uncovered 1,187 kilograms of “Canadian Loud”, a highly potent and expensive strain of cannabis, packed in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags and hidden inside imported vehicles within a 40-foot container.

Authorities say the consistent seizures highlight the effectiveness of sustained inter-agency collaboration in disrupting transnational drug trafficking networks operating through Nigeria’s seaports.