Nigeria Customs, NDLEA Begin New Year With Major Offensive

…Impound Cocaine-Laden Vessel

BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has launched 2026 with a decisive strike against international drug trafficking networks.

Command Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintend of Customs, Suliaman Isah in a release stated that on January 2, officers of both agencies intercepted 30 slabs of cocaine weighing 30.1 kilograms aboard MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, at the Greenview Terminal in Apapa Port, Lagos.

Isah stated that the illicit cargo was expertly concealed within the vessel, underscoring the sophisticated methods traffickers employ to exploit Nigeria’s busiest seaport. The interception, occurring on the first working day of the year, sets a strong tone for the agencies’ zero-tolerance stance against illicit trade.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, praised the officers for their vigilance and professionalism.

“This achievement reflects the strong inter-agency synergy between federal government entities and our commitment to intelligence-led enforcement,” Oshoba stated. While criminal elements seek to outsmart us, our officers remain one step ahead”, he said.

Oshoba described the bust as a bold statement for 2026, reaffirming the command’s determination to safeguard national security. Meanwhile, the statement added that the NDLEA has taken custody of the cocaine for further investigation and prosecution.

Isah further explained that this latest seizure is the third major bust in recent weeks, noting that 25.5kg of cocaine hidden in five bags aboard another vessel was intercepted two weeks ago. On December 11, 2025, authorities uncovered 1,187kg of “Canadian Loud” cannabis, packaged in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags, concealed in imported vehicles inside a 40-foot container.

Reiterating its dual mandate, the Apapa Port Command notes that while it is facilitating legitimate trade; it is also incumbent on the customs command to continue to protect the national security.

Thus, the operation underscores Nigeria’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and ensure that the nation’s ports remain secure gateways for lawful commerce.