The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying suspected illicit drugs worth an estimated ₦3.67 billion at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, in a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The substances, concealed among imported used vehicles and automobile spare parts, included cannabis-infused cookies and gummies, as well as packages of Cannabis Indica.
The Customs Service’s Tin Can Island Port Command Public Relations Officer, Oscar Ivara, disclosed the seizures in a statement on Friday, saying the interceptions followed joint physical examinations by officers of both agencies.
The first container, identified as MSDU655132/0, was intercepted on September 2, 2026. A subsequent examination uncovered 890 packs of Delta-8 cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 598.08 kilogrammes, alongside a 2008 Mercedes-Benz and a 2012 Nissan Infiniti.
The second container, with identification number SKU625643/6, was intercepted on September 16. It contained 1,207 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing 603.75 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of ₦3.62 billion, Ivara said.
Two used Toyota Sienna vehicles, two Toyota Corolla vehicles and used engine spare parts were also found in the container.
According to the Customs Service, the combined weight of the seized substances was 1,201.83 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of ₦3.67 billion.
Ivara said the concealment of the substances among vehicles and spare parts highlighted attempts by smugglers to exploit containerised cargo to move prohibited items into Nigeria.
He said the seized substances would be formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and other necessary action.
“This partnership between the NCS and the NDLEA remains critical to identifying, intercepting and dismantling the activities of individuals and networks involved in drug trafficking,” he said.
Ivara commended officers of both agencies for their collaboration, adding that the command would strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering, cargo inspections and enforcement operations with relevant security and regulatory agencies.
He also warned smugglers against the illegal importation of prohibited substances and urged importers, licensed customs agents and freight forwarders to comply with applicable laws and import procedures.
“Legitimate trade must not be used as a cover for criminal activities,” he said.
