The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contraband goods valued at over ₦921 billion at Apapa Port, Lagos, between January and April 2025.
This significant seizure includes unregistered pharmaceuticals, expired food items, and restricted security equipment such as drones and communication devices.
Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi disclosed that the seizures resulted from 11 interdiction operations, involving five 40-foot containers, two 20-foot containers, and four additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband.
Among the confiscated items were large quantities of unregistered sexual enhancement drugs, expired margarine products, and high-grade surveillance drones lacking necessary end-user certificates.
Adeniyi highlighted the growing sophistication of smuggling syndicates, noting tactics such as mislabeling pharmaceuticals as cosmetics to evade detection and combining various contraband items in single shipments.
He emphasised the NCS’s commitment to strengthening enforcement measures and collaborating with agencies like NAFDAC, NDLEA, and the Office of the National Security Adviser to curb these illicit activities.
The Comptroller-General also mentioned the rollout of the Customs Unified Management Information System, known as B’Odogwu, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and stakeholder engagement at ports.
These efforts underscore the NCS’s dedication to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the integrity of its import protocols.
