Drug War: Another Vessel Intercepted With 30.1kg Cocaine by Customs, NDLEA Operatives at Apapa Port
By Raheem Ibrahim
The eagle eyes of operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Apapa Area Command, have again paid off with the interception of 30.1 kilograms of cocaine concealed onboard a Marshall Islands–flagged vessel, MV Aruna, at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The new breakthrough occurred barely two weeks after the same joint operatives intercepted illicit drugs at the same port, which led to the seizure of a vessel along with its crew members late last year.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, who confirmed the development in a press statement, revealed that the seizure was made on Friday, 2 January 2026, at the Greenview Terminal, Apapa Port, marking the first major interception by the command in the new year.
The illicit drugs, made up of 30 slabs of cocaine, were carefully hidden aboard the vessel, reflecting the sophisticated tactics employed by drug trafficking networks.
He revealed, “Barely two weeks earlier, operatives of the joint NCS–NDLEA team had intercepted 25.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in five bags aboard another vessel, following credible intelligence.”
Commenting on the achievement, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the latest seizure as a product of intelligence-led enforcement and strong inter-agency synergy.
He commended officers of both agencies for their vigilance and professionalism, reiterating the command’s zero-tolerance stance on smuggling and other illicit activities.
The seized cocaine has been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution in line with established procedures.
It would be recalled that on 11 December 2025, the joint team also intercepted 1,187 kilograms of “Canadian Loud,” a high-grade strain of cannabis, packaged in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags and concealed inside imported vehicles in a 40-foot container.
Comptroller Oshoba reaffirmed that the Apapa Port Command remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade while safeguarding national security at the nation’s seaports.
