The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command (LFTZ) has intercepted 400 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis sativa, commonly known as Loud, with an estimated duty-paid value of ₦2,262,960,000 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) at Lekki Deep Sea Port.
The seized substances, concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing paper, were discovered in a container intercepted on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following credible and actionable intelligence received by officers of the command.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, disclosed this on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the formal handover of the seized container and its contents to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Kukoyi said the container, with registration number PRSU1562064, had arrived at the port and was scheduled for onward movement by barge to a bonded terminal outside the command under the Customs transire procedure. However, officers stopped its movement for further scrutiny after identifying potential security risks associated with the suspicious consignment.
He explained that the container underwent non-intrusive scanning, which revealed anomalies that warranted a comprehensive physical examination. The exercise was subsequently conducted jointly by officers of the NCS, NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), with the cooperation of Lekki Freeport Terminal management.
According to Kukoyi, the examination uncovered seven pallets containing 400 packages of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, with a total weight of 400 kilogrammes. The substances were concealed among the 798 reams of A4 printing paper in what appeared to be an attempt to evade detection by security agencies.
Following the discovery, the command forwarded a detailed report of the interception and examination to Customs Headquarters, which subsequently approved the formal handover of the seized container and its contents to the NDLEA for further investigation and appropriate action in accordance with extant laws and established procedures.
Kukoyi described the interception as a significant intervention in protecting public safety and national security, stressing that the consequences of illicit drug trafficking and abuse extend beyond health risks to include addiction, organised crime, insecurity, family disintegration and the erosion of the nation’s productive human capital, particularly among young people.
He attributed the successful operation to intelligence led enforcement, the deployment of modern scanning technology, proactive risk management and sustained collaboration among security and regulatory agencies. He noted that the interception demonstrated the importance of coordinated border security operations in preventing suspicious consignments from leaving port environments undetected.
He also acknowledged the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose policy thrust of consolidation, collaboration and innovation, he said, continued to strengthen the Service’s operational capacity in trade facilitation, revenue generation and enforcement.
He warned individuals and criminal networks against exploiting ports, free trade zones and transit corridors for unlawful activities, adding that the Customs Service remained vigilant, with active intelligence networks and an unwavering commitment to enforcement.
Kukoyi reiterated that Nigerian ports must remain gateways for economic prosperity and legitimate commerce rather than channels for criminal activities, stressing that sustained vigilance, intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration were essential to securing the nation’s borders and protecting public health.
Speaking at the handover, the Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, Lekki Port Area Command, Jonah Achema, attributed the seizure to sustained vigilance, proactive enforcement and intelligence-driven operations, describing it as consistent with the vision and operational mandate of the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), to disrupt, dismantle and defeat drug trafficking networks. He noted that the seizure came on the heels of Marwa’s visit to Lekki Port, describing the interception as a fulfilment of the agency’s commitment to strengthening surveillance and preventing illicit drug shipments through the facility.
Achema said the command’s sustained enforcement efforts had significantly tightened the port’s defences against drug trafficking, adding that the container had been scheduled to leave the port without a comprehensive examination but was stopped for a 100% physical inspection following credible intelligence.
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