Apapa Customs, NDLEA Bust 347.5kg of ‘Canadian Loud’ Hidden in Imported Vehicle
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Port Command, in a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted 347.5 kilogrammes of “Canadian Loud”, a high-grade strain of cannabis, concealed inside an imported
Toyota Sienna vehicle at the Apapa Port.
The seizure came barely 24 hours after the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, received the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit, underscoring intensified enforcement at the nation’s busiest port.
According to Customs, the illicit drugs were hidden in 13 bags inside one of four vehicles in a single import consignment. A detailed weighing showed 10 bags at 25kg each, one bag at 29kg, and two bags at 34.5kg and 34kg respectively, bringing the total to 347.5kg.
This interception represents the fourth major joint drug bust by NCS and NDLEA at Apapa Port in less than two months, reflecting Oshoba’s resolve that no cargo whether import or export passes through the port without thorough examination.
Reacting to the operation, Oshoba warned smugglers that Apapa Port is no longer a safe route for criminal activities.
“Any attempt by criminal elements to traffic prohibited items through Apapa Port will be detected and thwarted. We remain vigilant and resolute in protecting society and national security”, he said.
The bust further highlights the growing inter-agency collaboration championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement between Customs and NDLEA officers to dismantle smuggling networks within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Oshoba noted that the success was a direct result of strengthened partnerships, adding that the planned deployment of a 200-container-per-hour drive-through scanner will further boost technology-driven anti-smuggling operations at the port.
He explained that both agencies’ Standard Operating Procedures promote zero tolerance, professionalism and seamless cooperation. In line with protocol, the seized 347.5kg of Canadian Loud has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects.
The operation builds on the recent recognition of Oshoba and NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander, Mohammed Tukur, who were both awarded the WCO Certificate of Merit on Monday, 26 January 2026, in Abuja during activities marking the International Customs Day in Nigeria.
The interception also aligns with the 2026 ICD theme: “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment”.
Oshoba reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to disrupt illicit activities and safeguard the public.
