By ANDREW UTULU
The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has intercepted 9,458 packages of Cannabis Indica.
The Command further disclosed that the weight of the illicit drug was 4,729 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N18.916,000,000.00
Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka who made this known during a press briefing in Lagos, said the massive consignment of illicit drugs were discovered during a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He described the seizure as a major breakthrough by officials, following intelligence-led operations and a full physical inspection of a container originating from Canada.
The container, initially declared to contain only used vehicles, was found to be concealing a large quantity of hard drugs.
Upon thorough examination, operatives discovered 185 jumbo bags of Cannabis Indica hidden alongside a used 2010 Toyota Camry and a used 2023 Chevrolet Colorado, pointing to a deliberate attempt to disguise the illegal shipment within legitimate cargo.
Further checks revealed the scale of the seizure: 9,458 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing a total of 4,729 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N18.916 billion.
Comptroller Onyeka said the discovery underscored both the sophistication and the scale of drug trafficking attempts through Nigeria’s ports.
Comptroller Onyeka said the drugs have been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution, in line with its statutory mandate.
The development comes just days after both agencies strengthened operational ties through a formal agreement aimed at improving intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement. The pact, signed on April 27, 2026, is already being credited with enhancing inter-agency collaboration in tackling drug trafficking and organised crime.
The Command reaffirmed their commitment to tightening port security and warned that efforts to smuggle contraband into the country would continue to be met with coordinated enforcement actions.
“Following credible intelligence and sustained inter-agency cooperation, officers of the Command, working jointly with personnel of the NDLEA, conducted a 100% physical examination on a Container with No. HAMU429966/1, which has been red-flagged from intelligence gathered. The container which originated from Canada was initially declared to contain only used vehicles.
“However, upon thorough examination it was discovered to contain one hundred and eighty-five (185) jumbo bags of Cannabis Indica concealed with one used 2010 Toyota Camry and one used 2023 Chevrolet Colorado
“Further examination revealed that the seized Cannabis Indica comprised 9,458 packages, with a total weight of 4,729 kilograms, and an estimated street value of N18,916,000,000.00.” He said.
