Customs Foils ₦10bn Smuggling Attempt, Hands Seized Contraband to Agencies

International Seizures Nigeria Seizures

Posted by TGANB-Admin on 2025-11-27 06:58:45 |

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 3

---

On 12 August 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) disclosed that it intercepted 16 containers laden with prohibited goods — including drugs, expired medications, expired food items, used clothing, and even arms and ammunition — valued at more than ₦10 billion.

During a press briefing at the Apapa Area Command in Lagos, the customs authorities said that one suspicious container — initially cleared upon first inspection — was re-scanned following intelligence triggers, and then found to contain contraband. Among the haul was 101 kg of a Canadian hard drug brand (“Colorado Loud”), concealed alongside two pump-action rifles, one pistol with 55 rounds, 25 additional cartridges, and related accessories — highlighting a worrying nexus between drug smuggling and illegal arms importation.

Other containers held expired pharmaceuticals, expired food items (e.g., margarine), and banned used clothing. The operation was jointly handed over to relevant enforcement agencies including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), and the NCS.

The customs leadership reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on substandard imports and smuggling. They warned that Nigeria remains a tempting target for traffickers aiming to flood the market with harmful contraband — from expired medicines to weapons — and pled to sustain intelligence-driven enforcement. Analysts view this seizure as a signal that smugglers are now using mixed consignments (drugs + arms + expired goods) to diversify risks and evade detection.

Go!