The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and seized goods valued at ₦6.38 billion at the Apapa port in Lagos. The goods include expired pharmaceutical products, codeine-based cough syrups, cannabis and restricted security equipment.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing at APM Terminals Apapa on Tuesday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the seizures involved 13 containers and several additional contrabands that were uncovered through intelligence-led operations supported by cargo scanning technology and targeted physical examinations.
Adeniyi explained that the consignments were flagged after officers detected suspicious cargo profiles during routine scanning procedures, which prompted detailed inspections that revealed several prohibited and falsely declared shipments.
Among the items seized was a 40-foot container laden with expired pharmaceutical products such as Mixagrip Cold Caplets, Ladinax tablets, Chloroquine injections and Diclofenac tablets.
Customs officers also intercepted two 40-foot containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including Hyegra 200 and Sildenafil Citrate.
In another discovery, a 20-foot container loaded with 800 cartons of codeine cough syrup was found carefully concealed inside toilet flushing cisterns and sanitary ware.
Further seizures include cartons of Artesunate injections, while another container was discovered to contain restricted security equipment such as bulletproof vests, helmets, walkie-talkies and tactical torches imported without the required end user certificates.
The Service also uncovered multiple containers loaded with expired food items, including muffin cookies, 36,000 cans of expired energy drinks and large quantities of expired tomato paste brands.
In addition, officers intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with 1,700 cartons of codeine cough syrup concealed among luxury food flasks, while another container was found to be carrying 1,575 cartons of CSMIX with codeine hidden among electric kettles alongside additional cartons of Co-codamol tablets.
Customs operatives also seized 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 347.57 kilograms, which were concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
Describing the seizures as a major breakthrough in the Service’s ongoing crackdown on illicit trade, Adeniyi warned that the importation of expired drugs and controlled substances poses serious risks to public health, while the smuggling of codeine-based products fuels the growing challenge of substance abuse in the country.
He emphasized that under the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the seized goods are liable to outright forfeiture, adding that investigations are ongoing and all individuals connected with the shipments will face prosecution.
The Customs boss further noted that the Service is expanding the deployment of Non-Intrusive Inspection technology to enhance cargo clearance efficiency while strengthening enforcement against high-risk consignments.
According to him, Apapa port processes thousands of containers daily, making it one of the most strategic trade gateways in West Africa.
“Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers or criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation,” Adeniyi said, while assuring compliant traders that Customs enforcement is targeted at illegal imports and not legitimate business activities.
