The Tincan Island Port Customs Command, Apapa, Lagos and its sister agency in the port, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), threaten hard times for drug traffickers who are using the port as transit point for their nefarious business, even as the Command seizes N16.6 billion worth of Cannabis Indica which it hands over to the NDLEA
By Innocent Chukwu
The Tincan Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has raised an alarm over the desperation of criminal networks bent on using the ports to push dangerous substances into Nigeria, insisting that no effort would be spared to stop them.
Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), of the Command raised the alarm at the Tincan Port premises on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, while handing over some illicit items to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a major interception made through intelligence and collaboration barely two weeks after a similar seizure was made by the Command.
Comptroller Onyeka at the event said, “This (seizure) tells us two things; First, criminal networks are still desperate to use our ports to push dangerous substances into the country. Second, and more importantly, it shows that our officers and sister security agencies are alert, focused, and fully committed to stopping them.”
Onyeka disclosed that acting on credible intelligence gathered jointly by the NCS and the NDLEA, officers of the Enforcement Unit intercepted and subjected a 1 by 40 ft container with number HAMU 247034/8 to a thorough physical examination.
Consequently, the container which also originated from Canada, just like the previous one, was found to contain 8,347 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing a total of 4,173.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of N16.694.
The Tincan Port Customs chief described the latest interception as unique, and commended the vigilance and professionalism of Customs officers and sister security agencies in the port who ensured that the consignment will not get to the streets.
Onyeka also said, “This is not just another seizure. This represents a deliberate attempt by criminal elements to jeopardize national security, endanger lives and profit from the destruction of our hardworking young men and women of our country. Thankfully, due to the vigilance and professionalism of our officers and partner agencies, the consignment will not get to the streets.”
Reassuring that his Command was prepared to confront and defeat illicit importations at all times, he stated, “Let me assure Nigerians that this Command is not relenting. If anything, recent events have strengthened our resolve. We will continue to intensify surveillance, deepen intelligence gathering, and sustain our collaboration with the NDLEA and other security agencies to ensure more interceptions are made.
“We are also determined to go beyond seizures. Those behind these shipments will be identified, traced, arrested, and prosecuted. Let me also clearly warn any insider collaborators aiding these criminal activities, the Command will not spare anyone found compromising national security for personal gain. No matter how long it takes, such individuals will be tracked down and dealt with according to the law.”
The CAC appreciated the Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) for the successful partnership agreement reached in the interest of national security and the fight against illicit activities, adding, “This development is a clear demonstration of the commitment of both agencies towards strengthening inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-sharing. The message today is simple and clear, we are watching, we are working, and we will continue to frustrate every attempt to use our ports for illegal importation.”
Accepting the 4,173.5kg of cannabis indica on behalf of the NDLEA Chairman, Archieabia Ibinabo Ogboba described the event as auspicious because Nigeria is being defended from what she called the daring and wicked activities of criminal merchants who are more concerned about profiteering than human lives, health, and wellbeing of innocent citizens.
Ogboba said, “It is indeed an epoch-making event as the NDLEA formally takes over from the Nigeria Customs Service, prohibited weeds which have tested positive for Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 4,173.5kg, alongside vehicles used as conveyance for the illicit drugs.
“These exhibits shall proceed through the necessary legal processes for final forfeiture in accordance with the law. The seizure is humongous, a total of 4,173.5kg of Cannabis Indica.
The interception of this large cache of illicit substances by the Nigerian security architecture at the seaports is highly commendable.”
