By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
Barely five days after the visit of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to Apapa Port—where he warned that the port would no longer be a haven for smugglers—the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has recorded another major breakthrough.
On Sunday, 15 March 2026, in a coordinated operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, customs officers intercepted and seized two containers carrying 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of codeine-containing syrup (CSP Codeine). The illicit substances were cleverly concealed in household utensils.
The seizures have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3,398,000,000. Container MRKU 3816476 contained 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) hidden with 38 cartons of pearl-plated insulated casseroles, while Container TGBU 5399178 held 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) concealed with 36 pearl-plated casseroles. Both shipments have been officially confiscated under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (as amended).
Commenting on the operation, Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, described the seizure as a clear demonstration of the command’s commitment to the CGC’s directives. “This fresh interception, coming just five days after the CGC’s visit and warning to criminal elements, is a direct response to his charge. We remain fully aligned with the Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy and will continue to make Apapa Port extremely hostile to smugglers and drug traffickers,” he said.
Comptroller Oshoba also commended the NDLEA for its seamless collaboration and unwavering support, emphasizing that the Apapa Command is resolute in protecting public health, safeguarding national security, and facilitating only legitimate trade. He reiterated the Service’s zero-tolerance approach to smuggling and commitment to technology-driven operations.
The successful operation underscores the NCS’s proactive enforcement strategy, sending a strong message that illegal drug imports will no longer find safe passage through Nigeria’s busiest port.
