Customs, NDLEA Joint Operation Foils Cocaine Smuggling at Apapa PortIntercept 30.1kg Cocaine Hidden on Marshall Islands Vessel
Lagos, January 2, 2026
Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle 30.1 kilograms of cocaine through the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure was disclosed in a press release issued on Friday, January 2, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman. According to the statement, the illicit drug, packaged in 30 slabs, was intercepted on the first working day of the new year during a joint operation at the Greenview Terminal.
The cocaine was concealed onboard MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands–flagged vessel, following actionable intelligence and coordinated surveillance by officers of both agencies.
Commenting on the successful operation, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, commended the professionalism, vigilance, and dedication of the officers involved.
“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 clear indication of the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against illicit trade in 2026, reaffirming its resolve to safeguard national security while ensuring the smooth facilitation of legitimate trade at the nation’s busiest seaport.
In line with established procedures, the seized cocaine has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and the prosecution of individuals connected to the shipment.
The latest seizure marks the third major drug interception recorded 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 December 11, 2025, the joint task force seized 1,187 kilograms of “Canadian Loud,” a high-grade strain of cannabis, packed in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags and concealed inside imported vehicles within a 40-foot container.
Authorities say the sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA underscores the federal government’s determination to combat drug trafficking and other transnational crimes through Nigeria’s ports.
