Story by Dili Utomi
The idiosyncratic acumen with which Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, Comptroller and the Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Port Command, Nigeria Customs Service handles his responsibilities at his post, has over time left most totally impressed. This is because his time at the helms of affairs at TCIP has witnessed such good performances in quick succession, generally in all the areas of the Customs mandate that they could leave a watchers’s head spinning.
The most recent seizure of hard drugs gives us the impetus to highlight some of the Command’s earlier results in carrying out their job especially in the area of anti-smuggling activities and particularly concerning the seizure of illicit drugs.
In March 2025, different caches of illicit drugs with a total street value of Eight Billion, Fifty Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Naira only (8,053,125,000.00) were seized.
In October 2025, Two Thousand and Eighty One packages of Cannabis Indica, weighing 1,093kg, and Eight (8) packages of Crystal meth weighing 8kg, concealed in the vehicles 4 containerised vehicles were apprehended. The total street value of the illicit drugs recovered from the seizures was Five Billion, Three Hundred and Four Milllion Naira (N5, 304.000,000.00)
In January this year 2026, fifty-five (55) jumbo bags of Cannabis Indica comprising of 2,366 packages with a combined weight of 1,183 kilograms were seized. The seized narcotics have an estimated street value of Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Two Million Naira (₦4,732,000,000) and one (1) suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
In February, three units of 20ft containers of expired pharmaceuticals were seized and handed over to the NDLEA.
Thursday, the 30th of April 2026, Comptroller Onyeka held a press briefing where he showcased fresh seizures of illicit drugs. At the briefing, he informed the journalists that “Following credible intelligence and sustained inter-agency cooperation, officers of the Command, working jointly with personnel of the NDLEA, conducted a 100% physical examination on a Container with Container No. HAMU429966/1, which has been red-flagged from intelligence
gathered. The container which originated from Canada was initially declared to contain only used vehicles. However, upon thorough examination it was discovered to contain One hundred and eighty-five (185) jumbo bags of Cannabis Indica concealed with one used 2010 Toyota Camry and one used 2023 Chevrolet Colorado”.
The CAC’s words “Further examination revealed that the seized Cannabis Indica comprised 9,458 packages, with a total weight of 4,729 kilograms, and an estimated street value of ₦18,916,000,000.00 (Eighteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Million Naira).
Comptroller Onyeka referenced the agreement between the Customs and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as the framework, which is
yielding tangible results, and which was signed on April 27, 2026 at the
NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer,
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (PhD).
Part of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the agreement provides that both agencies are to follow on strengthening inter-agency collaboration through regular engagements, structured intelligence sharing, and develop coordinated operational guidelines to ensure seamless collaboration.
The agreement also establishes that the headquarters of the standing inter Agency committee is to be domiciled at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Headquarters, Abuja.
The CAC also handed over the seized 4,729 kilogrammes of Cannabis Indica to the Strategic Commander, Tin Can Island Port Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Controller of Narcotics, Solomon Gbadebo Omotosho. While carrying out the hand over, Comptroller Onyeka warned all smugglers and criminal elements that the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with its partners is fully prepared and determined to detect, intercept and prosecute all forms of illegal activities.
He reiterated that the Tin Can Island Port Command remains resolute in its commitment to intensifying synergy with all relevant agencies to secure the borders and ports. He said that “we will continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies and robust enforcement measures to combat smuggling and illicit trade”.
The NDLEA head while receiving the seized drugs said that the seizures occurred as a result of Comptroller Onyeka’s commitment to national security and also the inter-agency cooperation occasioned by the interaction of the heads of both agencies, Brigadier-General (Retired) Buba Marwa and CGC Adewale Adeniyi (PhD).
While fielding questions from journalists, CN Omotosho also noted that some of these illicit drugs come from certain countries that have more liberal approach to some drugs and that their threshold for allowed substances is higher than what the laws of Nigeria permit.
It is noted that with the renewed efforts and especially the solid inter-agency cooperation, smugglers planning to use the Tin Can Port as a route to carry out their nefarious activity of drugs smuggling will continue to hit brick walls and have more holes punched into their sleazy pockets.
Unfortunately, the perpetrators at any little suspicion of any agency of government being on their trail usually take flight, they are in most cases not caught just as it is with the latest seizure.
For advertisement and more information, please contact us 08027590195, 08035721540 or email us at greatalternativenigltd@gmail.com, diliutomi1@gmail.com. or send us messages on x @dn_utomi or on Instagram @utomidili
