APAPA AREA COMMAND OF NCS IMPOUNDS ITEMS OF ILLEGITIMATE TRADE WORTH OVER #43.58 BILLION

Comptroller Oshoba to the left with CGC Adeniyi to his left.

Story by Dili Utomi

The Apapa Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service located in Nigeria’s premier Port has continued to set the pace as the top Customs Command. Today, the 10th of August 2026, the Command hosted the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi (PhD) as various items of trade constituting contrabands, undeclared items and hidden products were paraded to the press.

After the initial introductory welcome speech by the Customs Area Command of the Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, CGC Adeniyi took the podium. Enunciating the critical mandates imposed on the Nigeria Customs Service by the CEMA Act 2023 which he said go beyond revenue generation, the CG noted the genuine security roles played by the Service by making sure that unCustoms goods are not allowed into the country.

He used the occasion to highlight the large collection of legitimate items of trade that includes:
(1) HAMU 3086682. 1 x 40ft. 4,777 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 2,388.5kg, packed in 2 cartons, 48 jumbo bags and 40 drums; assorted automobile spare parts; one carton of coffee mix; 8 cartons of oats; and three vehicles.

(2) FANU 1933352. 1 x 40ft. 8,287 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 4,145kg, packed in 162 bags; and three vehicles.

(3) MSKU 3941778. 1 x 20ft. 2,181 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,090.5kg, packed in 5 cartons; 148 bags of foreign parboiled rice; assorted automobile spare parts; 2 boxes of lithium batteries; 1 carton of PV combiner box; 19 cartons of turmeric; 33 cartons of mangala fish; and 11 cartons of butterfly fish.

(4) TCKU 7653306. 1 x 40ft. 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup, concealed under household items.

(5) MSKU 9282528. 2 cartons containing 108 units of high-definition dualcamera drones, extracted from the container.

(6) MRKU 6185100. 1 x 40ft. 425 bales of used clothing.

(7) MRKU 5535966. 1 x 40ft. 435 bales of used clothing.

(8) SEKU 4685299. 1 x 40ft. 422 bales of used clothing.

(9) SUDU 7593139. 1 x 20ft. Fully loaded with expired tomato ketchup.

(10) PCIU 2834954. 1 x 20ft. Fully loaded with expired antiseptic liquid.

(11) ZCSU 8749546. 1 x 40ft. Fully loaded with expired vaginal tablets.

(12) PONU 7890827. 1 x 40ft. Fully loaded with expired disposable nappies.

(13) MSKU 1524590. 1 x 40ft. Fully loaded with expired disposable nappies.

The 3 narcotics containers together held 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg, rather more than 7½ tonnes. The used clothing amounted to 1,282 bales.

The total duty paid value of the seizures is Forty-Three Billion, Five Hundred and
Eighty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Eight Hundred and FiftyNine Naira (₦43,588,618,859.00).

The CG noted that “The abuse of prohibited substances like codeine among young Nigerians has been the subject of national concern for years, and its connection to violent conduct, to family breakdown and to the loss of productive lives is well documented. A single container of this size would have supplied that trade for a considerable period”.

Again, CGC Adeniyi declared that the Command also extracted 108 units of high-definition dual-camera drones from an intercepted container. Drones, he said have lawful uses, and the Service has no quarrel with them, but that equipment of this kind, in the wrong hands, becomes a means of surveillance, of reconnaissance and of delivery and security agencies have already met it in that role in the field.

His words “Let me be plain with importers. Restricted and security sensitive equipment requires the appropriate security approvals, end-user certificates and documentation before clearance. Consignments of that character that arrive without them will be detained. Our ports will not be a route through which capability reaches those who are working against the security of this country”. He warned.

Also intercepted according to CGC Adeniyi are Five containers which were loaded with expired tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies. These are products he said are applied to the body and consumed by households. Their importation after expiry, he told the audience places children, women and other consumers at risk of harm they have no means of detecting at the point of purchase.

Some of the seized items were handed over to the relevant agencies for further action and closure. The public, he advised is encouraged to go on with their legitimate activities and be rest assured that the Customs will continue to ensure continued and quick movement of legitimate trade.

“Scrutiny will fall on the consignments, transactions and operators that present identifiable risk. To those engaged in false declaration, concealment, undervaluation or the importation of prohibited goods, the position is straightforward: no port, border station or logistics channel will be permitted to serve as a safe haven”.

CG Adeniyi commended the officers and men of the Apapa Area Command for the vigilance and the professionalism that produced the displayed results, he also thanked the NDLEA, NAFDAC and their international partners for their cooperation.

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