Customs, NDLEA Joint Operation Foils Cocaine Smuggling at Apapa Port
…Intercept 30.1kg Cocaine Hidden on Marshall Islands Vessel
By Lucy Nyambi
Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command, in a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have foiled an attempt to smuggle 30.1 kilograms of cocaine through the Apapa Port in Lagos.
According to a press release issued on Friday, 2 January 2026, by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman, the illicit drug, packaged in 30 slabs, was intercepted on the first working day of the new year, concealed onboard the MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, at the Greenview Terminal.
Commenting on the operation, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, commended the professionalism and vigilance of officers involved in the joint operation.
“This achievement reflects the strong inter-agency synergy between federal government agencies and our commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, Comptroller Oshoba said.
“While criminal elements seek to outsmart us, our officers remain one step ahead, ensuring no smuggling attempt, whether disguised as import, export, or transit cargo, succeeds under my watch.”
He described the interception as a strong signal of the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit trade in 2026, noting that the Apapa Command remains resolute in protecting national security while facilitating legitimate commerce.
In line with established protocols, the seized cocaine has been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and the prosecution of suspects linked to the shipment.
The latest seizure represents the third major drug interception 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 credible intelligence.
Similarly, on 11 December 2025, the joint team seized 1,187 kilograms of “Canadian Loud”, a high-grade and expensive strain of cannabis, packed in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags and hidden inside imported vehicles within a 40-foot container.
