The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 13 containers of hard drugs and expired goods with a total duty-paid value of ₦43.58 billion.

Addressing journalists at the command while showcasing the seized containers, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the items fell into three broad categories: "narcotics and controlled pharmaceuticals, security-sensitive equipment, and expired goods intended for human use." He put the total value of the seizures at ₦43.58 billion.

Giving a breakdown, Adeniyi said a 40-foot container (registration HAMU 3086682) was found carrying 4,777 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 2,388.5kg, packed across two cartons, 48 jumbo bags and 40 drums, alongside automobile spare parts, a carton of coffee mix, eight cartons of oats and three vehicles. A second 40ft container (FANU 1933352) held 8,287 parcels of cannabis weighing 4,145kg, packed in 162 bags, along with three vehicles.

A 20ft container (MSKU 3941778) was intercepted with 2,181 parcels of cannabis weighing 1,090.5kg, alongside 148 bags of foreign parboiled rice, automobile spare parts, two boxes of lithium batteries, a PV combiner box, and cartons of turmeric, mangala fish and butterfly fish.

Other seizures included a 40ft container (TCKU 7653306) carrying 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup concealed under household items; a container (MSKU 9282528) carrying two cartons of 108 high-definition dual-camera drones; and two 40ft containers (MRKU 6185100 and SEKU 4685299) carrying 425 and 422 bales of used clothing respectively.

Adeniyi noted that the command also intercepted five containers loaded with expired tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.

In total, the three narcotics-laden containers carried 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg, while the used clothing seized amounted to 1,282 bales.

The Customs boss warned that codeine abuse among young Nigerians remained a serious national concern, linking it to violent conduct, family breakdown and loss of productive lives.

He noted that a single container of that size could have sustained illicit trade for a considerable period, adding that the cannabis interceptions were the result of joint efforts with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, supported by intelligence from international security partners.

On the seized drones, Adeniyi acknowledged their legitimate uses but flagged the security risks posed by such equipment falling into the wrong hands.

"Drones have lawful uses, and the service has no quarrel with them. But equipment of this kind, in the wrong hands, becomes a means of surveillance, of reconnaissance and of delivery, and our security agencies have already met it in that role in the field," he said.

He warned that security-sensitive consignments arriving without proper documentation would continue to be detained.

"Our ports will not be a route through which capability reaches those who are working against the security of this country," he said, adding that the seized items would be handed over to relevant narcotics agencies for further action and closure.

ID