The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan
Island Command, has collaborated with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
to intercept 8,347 packages of cannabis indica weighing 4,173.5 kilogrammes,
with an estimated street value of N16.694bn, at the Tincan Island Port.
This comes weeks after operatives of
both agencies recorded a similar seizure at the command.
Speaking while displaying the seized
drugs to journalists at the port on Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller in
charge of the command, Frank Onyeka, said the successful interception followed
credible intelligence jointly gathered by the NCS and NDLEA.
He explained that officers of the
Enforcement Units of the command intercepted a 40-foot container marked HAMU
247034/8 and subjected it to thorough physical examination following credible
intelligence reports jointly gathered by both agencies, which led to the
discovery of the illicit drugs.
The CAC disclosed that the container,
which originated from Canada, “was found to contain 8,347 packages of cannabis
indica weighing 4,173.5 kilograms, with an estimated street value of
N16.694bn.”
Onyeka noted that the seizure
represented a deliberate attempt by criminal syndicates to undermine national
security and endanger the lives of Nigerians, especially young people.
“This is not just another seizure. This
represents a deliberate attempt by criminal elements to jeopardise national
security, endanger lives, and profit from the destruction of our hardworking
young men and women.
Thankfully, due to the vigilance and
professionalism of our officers and partner agencies, that consignment will not
get to the streets,” Onyeka stated.
He stressed that the command would
intensify surveillance, strengthen intelligence gathering, and sustain
collaboration with the NDLEA and other security agencies to prevent Nigerian
ports from being used for illegal importation.
The Tincan Island Command boss vowed
that individuals and insiders aiding criminal activities at the ports would be
identified, traced, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Onyeka commended the Comptroller-General
of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA,
Buba Marwa, for fostering the partnership and intelligence-sharing framework
between both agencies in the fight against illicit trade and drug trafficking.
Receiving the seized drugs on behalf of
the NDLEA, the Director of Seaport Operations, Ibinabo Abia, described the
interception as a major victory against transnational criminal networks
involved in drug trafficking.
She said the recovered substances had
tested positive for cannabis indica and would undergo legal forfeiture
procedures in line with the law.
Abia revealed that the successful
operation was the outcome of months of intelligence gathering, surveillance,
and international collaboration involving Homeland Security Investigations, the
United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police.
According to her, the container
originated from Toronto, Canada, before passing through Montreal and Tanger Med
Port en route to Tin Can Island Port in Lagos. She added that traffickers
deliberately changed routes multiple times in a bid to evade security
monitoring before the consignment was eventually intercepted on arrival in
Nigeria.
The NDLEA official praised the
professionalism and resilience of officers of the NCS, the Nigerian Ports
Authority and other security agencies involved in the operation.
She further noted that the latest
seizure followed recent interceptions of 4,729 kilograms of cannabis indica on
April 27 and another 610.5 kilograms on April 30, 2026, highlighting the
growing success of intelligence-driven anti-narcotics operations at the
nation’s seaports.
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