By Femi Anamelechi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, made a landmarks seizure unregistered of pharmaceuticals intercepted at the Apapa Area Command to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Speaking to press men at the handing over off of the illicit drug to officers of NDLEA in Lagos,, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi disclosed that the landmark operation was as a result of intelligence gathering, scanning analysis, physical examination and active collaboration with the NDLEA. The siezed items comprised 6.7 metric tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, 339,800 bottles of Codeine syrup, expired pharmaceutical products and fake medicines with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦53.39 billion.The CGC descyriivrd the seizures as a victory for public safety rather than a measure of financial value. “These seizures represent far more than monetary value. They represent lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines.”The NCS boss Adewale Adeniyi commended officers and men of the Apapa Area Command for their professionalism and vigilance, while also applauding the sustained partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, NAFDAC and other security agencies. The CGC reaffirmed the Service’s resolve to deepen collaboration with national and international partners to deny criminal networks the opportunity to exploit Nigeria’s ports and borders.He further warned smugglers that the Service would continue to intensify intelligence-led operations. “To those who seek to use our ports to traffic illicit drugs, expired pharmaceuticals or other prohibited goods, let today’s operation send a clear and unmistakable message that Nigeria’s ports are no longer safe havens for smugglers or organised criminal networks.”The seizures were handed over to representatives of sister agencies who reiterated the commission of the agencies to strengthen collaboration against drug Trafficking and trans- border crimes in Nigeria.
