The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has intercepted 400 kilograms of substances suspected to be cannabis, concealed in a shipment of A4 printing paper at Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lagos.
The consignment, comprising 400 packages of suspected cannabis and 798 reams of A4 printing paper, was assigned a duty-paid value of ₦2,262,960,000 by Customs. The seized items were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday, October 15, 2026, for further investigation and appropriate action.
Intelligence Leads to Interception of Suspicious Container
Addressing journalists at a press conference, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, said the interception occurred on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following what he described as credible and actionable intelligence.
The suspicious container, with registration number PRSU1562064, had arrived at Lekki Deep Sea Port and was destined for a bonded terminal outside the Command’s jurisdiction.
According to Kukoyi, the container was scheduled for onward transportation by barge through the waterways under the Customs transire procedure.
However, officers decided to stop the consignment for further scrutiny because of security concerns associated with allowing the suspicious shipment to leave the port environment without additional checks.
The container was first subjected to non-intrusive scanning, which reportedly revealed anomalies that warranted a comprehensive physical examination.
Suspected Cannabis Found Among A4 Printing Paper
A joint examination was subsequently conducted at Lekki Freeport Terminal by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The examination uncovered seven pallets of packaged goods. Upon opening and inspecting the pallets, officers reportedly found substances suspected to be illicit narcotics concealed among reams of A4 printing paper.
The examination yielded the following:
- 400 packages of suspected cannabis, weighing a total of 400 kilograms.
- 798 reams of A4 printing paper, allegedly used to conceal the suspected drugs.
- Estimated duty-paid value: ₦2,262,960,000, according to Customs.
Kukoyi said the concealment appeared designed to evade detection during the movement of the shipment.
Customs Hands Over Seizure to NDLEA
Following the discovery, the Command forwarded a detailed report of the interception and examination to Customs Headquarters.
Kukoyi said approval was subsequently granted for the formal handover of the seized container and its contents to the NDLEA, the agency responsible for further investigation and action within its statutory mandate.
Receiving the consignment, Commander Jonah Achema, Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, commended Kukoyi and the Customs officers for their vigilance and cooperation.
Achema said the seizure, coming shortly after Kukoyi assumed leadership of the Customs Command, sent a warning to drug trafficking networks that security agencies were strengthening their cooperation against illicit consignments moving through maritime routes.
Kukoyi Highlights Public Safety and National Security
Kukoyi described the interception as more than a seizure of suspected narcotics, saying it represented an intervention to protect public safety and national security.
He warned that illicit drugs could contribute to addiction, organised crime, insecurity, family disintegration and the loss of productive human capital, particularly among young people.
The Acting Area Controller also said the operation demonstrated the value of intelligence-led enforcement, modern Customs technology and cooperation among security and regulatory agencies.
He commended the officers involved in the operation, alongside the NDLEA and other partner agencies, for their swift response.
Kukoyi reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining vigilance against smuggling, drug trafficking and other unlawful activities.
NDLEA Recalls Previous ₦35bn Opioid Seizure
Achema said the latest interception followed other significant drug seizures at the port, including two containers of illicit pharmaceutical opioids identified in his remarks as Tramadol 225 and Tramaking Royal 250.
He put the combined weight of the previous opioid consignment at 46 tonnes and its estimated street value at ₦35 billion.
Achema said the latest operation reinforced the importance of inter-agency collaboration in disrupting attempts to move illicit drugs through Nigeria’s maritime gateways.
Drug Identification and Origin Require Clarification
While Customs described the recovered substance as suspected Cannabis sativa, commonly known as “Loud,” Achema referred to the consignment in his remarks as 400 kilograms of Cannabis indica from Thailand.
The descriptions differ, and the precise classification and origin should be confirmed by the relevant authorities. Pending official confirmation, the shipment is best described as suspected cannabis.
The reported ₦2.26 billion figure is the duty-paid value cited by Customs and should not be confused with a separately established street-market valuation.
Agencies Vow to Strengthen Port Security
The interception highlights the role of intelligence sharing, cargo scanning and coordinated inspections in identifying suspicious consignments before they move beyond port controls.
For Customs and the NDLEA, the next stage involves further investigation into the shipment and any individuals or networks potentially connected to it.
The agencies have reiterated their commitment to protecting legitimate maritime trade while preventing Nigerian ports and transit corridors from being exploited for suspected drug trafficking.
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