Big Catch: Apapa Customs Intercepts Brazilian Vessel With 25.5kg of Cocaine, Hands Over Suspects to NDLEA
By Raheem Ibrahim
In a major operation demonstrating effective surveillance and intelligence, operatives of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted a Brazilian vessel, MV San Antonio, carrying cocaine weighing 25.5kg at the Lagos Port.
The vessel, its crew, and the illicit substances were immediately handed over to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the port for further investigation.
Confirming the development, the Customs Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Apapa Command, CSC Isah Suleiman, revealed that the drugs were packaged in 24 parcels/slabs and concealed in five bags discovered aboard the ship during intelligence-led checks, which led to the detention of the vessel.
Speaking on the interception, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, described the operation as a product of the strong collaboration between the NCS and the NDLEA.
According to him, “Customs intelligence discovered that upon her departure from Brazil, the vessel made stops at ports in Honduras, Guatemala, and other locations suspected to be hubs for illicit drug trade.”
Oshoba reaffirmed the NCS’ commitment to ensuring that only legitimate trade thrives within the Apapa Port, in line with the zero-tolerance directive of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
While formally handing over the seized drugs to the NDLEA, he also confirmed the detention of the vessel that brought the cocaine into Nigeria.
“What has happened today is the outcome of profiling and intelligence-led operations by the NCS and NDLEA. Our resolve to prevent unlawful trade is renewed daily in line with the CGC’s directives,” he said.
He added: “This seizure and the detention of the ship should send a strong warning to perpetrators of unlawful trade within our port system. Customs is strengthening its synergy with sister agencies, and no criminal or group of lawless individuals can outsmart us here.”
As the festive season approaches, Oshoba stressed that national security and economic safety will not be compromised for the sake of trade facilitation.
“All consignments exiting this port into our markets or warehouses must be duly examined, and their contents must match what was declared,” he stated.
At a brief handover ceremony, the NDLEA was represented by CN Haliru Umar, Commander, Apapa Strategic Command, who formally received the seized narcotics from the Customs Service.
