Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA Make Major Cocaine Seizure at Apapa Port

In a decisive action against international drug trafficking, officers from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command, alongside the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), successfully intercepted 30 slabs of cocaine weighing 30.1 kilograms on board the MV Aruna, a vessel flagged by the Marshall Islands.

The seizure took place on the very first working day of the new year, at the Greenview Terminal within Apapa Port, one of Nigeria’s busiest seaports. The illicit drugs were cleverly concealed on the ship, highlighting the sophisticated methods employed by smugglers seeking to exploit the port’s operations.

Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, praised the coordination and professionalism demonstrated by the officers involved in this successful operation. “This achievement reflects the strong inter-agency synergy between federal government entities and our commitment to intelligence-led enforcement,” he stated. “While criminal elements seek to outsmart us, our officers remain one step ahead, ensuring no smuggling attempt, whether disguised as import, export, or transit cargo, succeeds under my watch.”

Oshoba referred to the interception as a bold statement for 2026, emphasizing the command’s unwavering zero-tolerance policy towards illicit trade. Following established protocols, the NDLEA has taken the seized cocaine into custody for further investigation and potential prosecution of those involved.

This latest operation marks the third significant drug interception by the joint NCS-NDLEA team in recent weeks. Just two weeks prior, the agencies seized 25.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden in five bags aboard another vessel, driven by actionable intelligence.

In another major bust on December 11, 2025, officials intercepted 1,187 kilograms of “Canadian Loud,” a premium strain of cannabis, packaged in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags and concealed within imported vehicles in a 40-foot container.

Comptroller Oshoba reiterated that the Apapa Port Command remains steadfast in its mission to facilitate legitimate trade while safeguarding national security.