Apapa Port Customs Seizes N3.2bn Prohibited Drugs, Crosses N1trn Revenue

The illegal shipment, smuggled into the country through the Lagos Port Complex, was uncovered following intensified enforcement operations. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, Customs Area Comptroller, Mr Babatunde Olomu, said the seizures were a result of joint efforts by the NCS and other national and international security agencies.

“This command is not sacrificing compliance on the altar of trade facilitation. On my watch and with the inspiring guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who was in the command two weeks ago to showcase 12 containers of seized pharmaceuticals.

“Consequently, as a result of our painstaking efforts, we recently uncovered six more containers laden with prohibited items, mostly unregistered pharmaceuticals. Other items in the seized containers are cosmetics, used clothing, and two vehicles illegally imported into the country. These seizures are worth a total DPV of N3.2 billion.

“While we facilitate trade, collect revenue for government, the NCS owes the Nigerian people the duty of protecting them from dangerous imports that are injurious to their health and well-being,” Mr Olomu said.

“As officers at the nation’s largest, busiest, and premier port, we are determined to avoid making Nigerians vulnerable to the selfish interests of merchants of death whose stock in trade is to bring in harmful substances like the ones I shall be showing you today.

“In addition to contravening the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, these imported containers with prohibited medical items also violate the World Customs Organization’s Operation Stop IV—an international enforcement effort against counterfeit, substandard, and unauthorized medical supplies,” he added.

On arrests made so far, Mr Olomu disclosed that, “Three suspects have been arrested in connection with these seizures and are at various stages of interrogation to face the full wrath of the law.

“These two seizures alone have a street value of N2.7 billion,” he said.

“Interestingly, these containers were intercepted as a result of international collaboration as well as local networking with officers and men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).”

According to Comptroller Olomu, the seizures fall into three main categories: namely A 40-foot container (No. SUDU 8685733) was found to contain 1,698 cartons of RTPL CSC cough syrup with codeine, concealed in 202 packages of water closets.

Another 40-foot container (No. MRSU 4846204) contained 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup, also hidden inside toilet seats.

He disclosed that other intercepted consignments include:

Container Number ONEU 1153150 (40FT) carrying 1,584 packages of Globatin anti-marks and 30g Clobetasol cream, falsely declared as truck tyres.

Container Number MRSU 3258823 (40FT), which held unregistered drugs including Rabeprazole for injection, Zahifranil tablets (25mg), Vancomycin hydrochloride (1000mg), and Ciprophetadine with Vitamin B complex—falsely declared as kitchenware and tables.

Container Number MRKU 0904594 (40FT), which concealed two stolen vehicles from Canada: a 2024 Lexus RX 450 (Chassis No. JTJCJNGA6R2017707) and a 2023 Lexus RX 350 (Chassis No. 2T2BAMCAPCO32741), falsely declared as food items.

Container Number SEKU 4716830 (40FT), which contained 390 bales of used clothing, in violation of the country’s import prohibition laws.

Giving other related activities, he said the command had crossed the N1 trillion revenue mark before the end of May. “We have so far generated a total of N1.094 trillion as of 21 May 2025,” he said.

“This collection confirms our trajectory and laudable antecedent of meeting and surpassing our target. Like we’ve done before, we are ready to do better this year,” he added.

He also highlighted notable revenue milestones: “For instance, in October 2024, we collected N18.2 billion; on March 14, 2025, we recorded a feat of N18.9 billion; and on 20 May, 2025, we made another record-breaking collection of N18.919 billion. All these were groundbreaking daily collections.”

Mr Olomu issued a strong warning Saying: “Apapa Port will remain a no-go area for any unlawful activity, and our officers are very much ready to uncover concealments and effect seizures or arrests where necessary.”

Also speaking, Assistant Comptroller General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in charge of Narcotics, Mr Buba Uwadiawakawa, attributed the success to joint intelligence-sharing efforts.

“The interception of the huge volumes of unregistered pharmaceuticals was made possible through the collaborative efforts of local and international security partners.” he said.