The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has announced a major breakthrough, intercepting illicit drugs worth N5.1 billion from India and Canada.
According to the command, the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized drugs stood at N3.778 billion, marking one of the largest seizures in recent times.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Michael Awe, disclosed the seizure during a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in Lagos on Thursday.
He explained that the interception was the result of coordinated intelligence and sustained surveillance carried out by officers of the command in partnership with other agencies.
Awe revealed that no suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizures, but the command had already transferred the items to relevant regulatory authorities.
He confirmed that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will investigate further.
The seized substances included 121 packs of Canadian cannabis, with a Duty Paid Value estimated at N1.188 billion, which were smuggled under the guise of household items.
Also intercepted were 294,000 tablets of Tramadol Hydrochloride (225mg), worth N1.389 billion, a drug often abused for its dangerous stimulant and addictive properties.
Pregabalin tablets (300mg), valued at N1.188 billion, were also seized. Officials described the drug as a controlled medication often used to treat nerve pain and epilepsy.
Customs officers further uncovered Norflex tablets (50mg) worth N800 million, as well as Sardalud tablets (2mg) valued at N495 million.
On July 30, officials evacuated a consignment with airway bill 235-63882254/2 from the NAHCO import shed to the government warehouse for careful examination.
The consignment, disguised as containing duvets, was later confirmed to conceal 121 packs of Canadian cannabis sativa, highlighting the smugglers’ deceptive strategies.
Similarly, on Sept. 2, another consignment, airway bill 071-58012706/6, was evacuated from SAHCO import shed. It contained 294,000 Tramadol tablets with DPV of N1.188 billion.
On Sept. 17, two separate consignments, airway bills 071-58231670 and 071-58234433, were also seized at the NAHCO import shed before being moved to the warehouse.
Upon examination, the consignments were found to contain Pregabalin, Sardalud and Norflex tablets imported without mandatory health certification. Their estimated street value exceeded N1.2 billion.
Awe stressed that the disturbing aspect was the rebranding of the illicit drugs as 50mg Diclofenac Sodium, creating a dangerous health risk for unsuspecting buyers.
He warned that such deceptive labelling could lead to serious health complications, urging Nigerians to purchase medicines only from reputable and verified pharmaceutical outlets.
The customs boss reaffirmed the command’s commitment to frustrate drug cartels and smugglers, noting that collaboration with sister agencies remained crucial to the success of operations.
Awe emphasised that the seizure sends a clear message to traffickers that Nigeria’s airports will no longer provide a safe route for illicit trade.
He assured the public that intelligence-driven operations will continue to expose smuggling networks attempting to exploit the nation’s trade channels.
NAFDAC’s Assistant Director, Kelechi Nwude, described the seizure as mind-blowing, praising Customs’ vigilance and promising continued collaboration with security and regulatory partners.
Nwude stressed that there would be no hiding place for criminal networks involved in the importation of illicit and dangerous drugs through Nigeria’s busiest airport.
She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s resolve to intensify surveillance and tighten pharmaceutical regulations to ensure that only approved medicines reach Nigerian pharmacies and hospitals.
Nwude added that drug cartels must realise that every attempt to exploit trade loopholes would only result in further exposure and dismantling of their operations.
She warned traffickers that the combined forces of Customs, NAFDAC and NDLEA would continue to bring them to their knees.
