Chinweuba Okechukwu
The Tin-Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the interception and seizure of illicit drugs valued at nearly ₦19 billion, reinforcing intensified efforts to combat transnational crime at Nigeria’s seaports.
Addressing journalists and stakeholders, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka described the operation as a product of credible intelligence and sustained collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), particularly its Tin-Can Island Port Strategic Command.
According to him, the breakthrough followed the profiling and red-flagging of a suspicious container marked HAMU429966/1, which originated from Canada and was initially declared to contain used vehicles.
Acting on intelligence, officers of the Command, in joint operation with NDLEA personnel, subjected the container to a comprehensive 100 per cent physical examination.
The inspection uncovered a sophisticated concealment involving one used 2010 Toyota Camry and one used 2023 Chevrolet Colorado, inside which were hidden 185 jumbo bags of Cannabis Indica.
Further checks revealed that the consignment comprised 9,458 packages of the illicit substance, with a combined weight of 4,729 kilograms and an estimated street value of ₦18,916,000,000.
Comptroller Onyeka noted that the seizure underscores the vigilance, professionalism, and resilience of Customs officers, while also highlighting the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding the nation.
He announced that the seized drugs have been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with its statutory mandate.
The development comes on the heels of a landmark agreement between the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA aimed at strengthening synergy in tackling drug trafficking and organised crime across the country.
The agreement, signed on April 27, 2026, in Abuja by the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, established a framework for enhanced intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement actions.
Under the arrangement, both agencies are expected to deepen operational cooperation through structured engagements, while a standing inter-agency committee domiciled at the NDLEA headquarters will drive implementation.
The Controller commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs for providing strategic direction and operational support, while also acknowledging the NDLEA and other stakeholders, including port operators and the media, for their continued partnership.
He reiterated the Command’s resolve to intensify intelligence-driven operations and issued a stern warning to smugglers, stressing that there will be no hiding place for those seeking to undermine Nigeria’s economy and public safety.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Command pledged to sustain robust enforcement measures to protect national security, promote lawful trade, and shield citizens from the dangers posed by illicit drugs.