Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled a N4.7 billion drug shipment at Lagos’ Tin Can Island Port, intercepting a 40-foot container used to smuggle 2,366 packs of cannabis indica through the nation’s busiest maritime trade corridor.

The consignment, concealed inside three used vehicles, the Customs command said yesterday in a statement by its spokesperson, Oscar Ivara, was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), following a joint, intelligence-led examination that also uncovered a Colt MK IV .45 calibre pistol with an empty magazine.

The seizure, he said, highlights how criminal networks attempt to exploit legitimate import channels, raising costs for compliant shippers and reinforcing the need for tighter port surveillance.

The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, said the interception followed coordinated profiling and examination carried out on January 28 with NDLEA and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

“Today, we inform you of developments in securing our borders, aligning with the 2026 International Customs Day theme of vigilance and commitment,” Onyeka said.

According to him, officers discovered the drugs packed in 55 jumbo bags inside the container, which had been deliberately masked with used vehicles—a Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Sienna, and Toyota Matrix, to evade detection.

“A 40-foot container was found to contain 2,366 packs in 55 jumbo bags of cannabis indica,” he said.

Onyeka added that the operation reflects a shift toward risk-based enforcement at the ports, where intelligence and inter-agency collaboration are increasingly central to safeguarding trade flows and public safety.

“Interestingly, we apprehended one suspect in connection with the seizure,” he said, warning the Service would not tolerate drug smuggling or any form of transnational crime that threatens national security and public health.

Receiving the consignment, NDLEA Commander, Tin Can Island, Solomon Omotoso, praised the collaboration, noting its importance to maintaining the credibility of Nigeria’s seaports.

He assured that the agency would pursue comprehensive investigations and diligently prosecute all those involved in line with the provisions of the law. (The Nation)

• PHOTO: Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA display seized cannabis at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos. Photo credit: THE NATION