No fewer than 13 containers of tactical gear (bullet proof vests), expired pharmaceuticals, and food valued at ₦6.38 billion have been intercepted at Apapa Port, Lagos.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi announced the seizure on Tuesday, attributing the success to a combination of intelligence-led enforcement, advanced scanning technology, and rigorous physical inspections.
The high-value haul included restricted security equipment such as bulletproof vests, helmets, and walkie-talkies.
Additionally, officials uncovered massive quantities of expired medications—including Mixagrip and Chloroquine—alongside controlled substances like codeine, which smugglers had hidden inside toilet cisterns and sanitary ware.
Adeniyi said the officers also seized containers of expired food items, including muffin cookie biscuits and 36,000 cans of expired Primo energy drinks.
He added that containers of expired St. Kelvin and De Truth tomato paste were also discovered during the operation.
“Another container contained 1,700 cartons of codeine cough syrup concealed with luxury food flasks. A separate container carried 1,575 cartons of CSMIX with codeine hidden among cartons of electric kettles,” Adeniyi said.
According to him, officers also intercepted 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 347.57 kilogrammes concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
“Collectively, these seizures amount to ₦6,381,237,988 worth of prohibited, expired and falsely declared goods. The importation of expired drugs and controlled substances poses a direct threat to public health,” Adeniyi said.
He added that concealment of codeine-based products was a deliberate attempt to fuel substance abuse and undermine the healthcare system.
“Let me state clearly that Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers hiding behind legitimate trade documentation.”
Adeniyi said physical examination still dominated cargo control procedures, highlighting the need to expand scanning technology at ports.
He explained that stronger non-intrusive inspection and intelligence-driven risk management would help focus physical checks on high-risk shipments.
According to him, the service aims to increase cargo scanning across major entry points before the end of 2026.
These include Apapa, Tin Can Island, Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar and other operational commands nationwide.
“This shift will enhance enforcement accuracy, reduce port congestion and support legitimate trade,” he said.
Adeniyi noted that achieving the target would depend largely on improved compliance by traders and port stakeholders.
“As compliance improves, customs will rely more on technology-driven inspection rather than time-consuming physical examination,” he said.
He urged traders to strengthen compliance and participate in the Authorised Economic Operator programme.
The programme, he said, offered trusted traders predictable clearance procedures and faster cargo facilitation.
Adeniyi said the seized consignments were liable to forfeiture under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, adding that penalties would be imposed while persons linked to the shipments would face prosecution.
The customs boss said the service would continue facilitating legitimate trade while preventing criminal networks from exploiting Nigeria’s ports.
He assured compliant traders that enforcement actions are targeted at criminal activities and not legitimate businesses.
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