The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted a massive shipment of cannabis valued at an estimated N16.694 billion at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The consignment, which contained 8,347 parcels of cannabis indica weighing approximately 4,173.5 kilogrammes, was discovered following coordinated intelligence-led surveillance between both agencies. The seizure was carried out weeks after a similar successful interception at the same command, highlighting intensified anti-drug operations at the nation’s ports.
Speaking while presenting the confiscated drugs to journalists on Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Command, Frank Onyeka, explained that the operation was made possible through credible intelligence jointly developed by the NCS and NDLEA.
According to him, officers from the Enforcement Unit flagged and detained a 40-foot container bearing the number HAMU 247034/8, which was then subjected to a detailed physical inspection. The examination eventually led to the discovery of the illicit substances concealed within the shipment.
Onyeka disclosed that the container, which originated from Canada, was found to contain thousands of packages of cannabis indica, stressing that the interception successfully prevented the drugs from entering Nigerian streets.
He described the seizure as a clear attempt by criminal networks to undermine national security and flood communities with illegal substances, warning that such actions pose serious risks, particularly to young people.
He further stated that the command will continue to strengthen surveillance at the port, enhance intelligence sharing, and deepen collaboration with sister agencies to ensure that Nigeria’s seaports are not exploited for drug trafficking or other illicit imports.
Onyeka also reaffirmed the commitment of the command to track down and prosecute anyone—inside or outside the system—found aiding smuggling activities, insisting that no compromise will be tolerated.
He commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, as well as NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, for their continued support and for strengthening inter-agency cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal trade.
Receiving the seized drugs on behalf of the NDLEA, the Director of Seaport Operations, Ibinabo Abia, described the interception as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing battle against transnational drug cartels operating through Nigerian ports.
She confirmed that laboratory tests identified the substances as cannabis indica, adding that the drugs would undergo full forfeiture procedures in accordance with the law.
Abia further revealed that the seizure was the result of months of coordinated intelligence gathering and international cooperation involving the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
She noted that the shipment originated from Toronto, Canada, and passed through multiple international transit points, including Montreal and Tanger Med Port, before arriving at Tin Can Island. According to her, traffickers repeatedly altered shipping routes in an attempt to evade detection, but the operation eventually collapsed under sustained surveillance.
She also praised the professionalism of officers from Customs, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and other security agencies involved in the successful interception.
Abia added that the latest operation comes after previous seizures of 4,729 kilogrammes of cannabis indica on April 27 and another 610.5 kilogrammes on April 30, 2026, underscoring the growing effectiveness of intelligence-driven enforcement efforts at Nigerian seaports.
