Lekki Trade Free Zone Customs Hands Over 400kg Of Suspected Cannabis Worth ₦2.26bn To NDLEA At Lekki Port

By Modinat Eniodunmo

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has handed over 400 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis, with an estimated duty-paid value of ₦2.26 billion, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and necessary action.

The handover took place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Lekki Deep Sea Port, following the interception of a suspicious container by Customs officers acting on credible intelligence.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, said the container, with registration number PRSU1562064, was intercepted on August 19, 2026, before it could be moved to a bonded terminal outside the command.

*Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi

According to Kukoyi, the container was scheduled for onward transportation by barge under the Customs transire procedure. However, officers stepped it down for further scrutiny after identifying potential security risks.

He explained that the container underwent a non-intrusive scanning process, which revealed anomalies that warranted a comprehensive physical examination.

A joint examination involving officers of the NCS, NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was subsequently conducted at Lekki Freeport Terminal.

The examination uncovered 400 packages of substances suspected to be cannabis, popularly known as Loud, weighing 400 kilogrammes.

The substances were concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing paper arranged on seven pallets.

Kukoyi disclosed that the seized substances had an estimated duty-paid value of ₦2,262,960,000.

He said the interception report was forwarded to the Customs Headquarters, which subsequently approved the formal handover of the container and its contents to the NDLEA for further investigation and appropriate action.

The Customs chief described the seizure as a significant achievement in the fight against drug trafficking, noting that illicit drugs pose serious threats to public health, national security and the country’s productive capacity, particularly among young people.

He attributed the success to intelligence-led enforcement, the deployment of modern Customs technology and effective collaboration among security and regulatory agencies.

Kukoyi commended the officers involved in the operation, the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, the DSS, NAFDAC and the management of Lekki Freeport Terminal for their cooperation.

He also acknowledged the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, saying his emphasis on collaboration, innovation and operational efficiency continued to strengthen the Service’s capacity to combat illicit trade.

The Acting Area Controller reaffirmed the command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining zero tolerance for smuggling, drug trafficking and other forms of economic sabotage.

He urged port operators, shipping companies, clearing agents, importers and members of the public to support security agencies by providing credible information to help prevent criminal activities.

The Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, Jonah Achema, described the seizure as significant and commended the Customs Command and other security agencies for their collaboration.

Achema also congratulated Kukoyi on his appointment as Acting Customs Area Controller, following the retirement of Controller H.K.A. Abubakar.

He said the handover, coming shortly after Kukoyi assumed leadership of the command, demonstrated a commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation and intensifying efforts against maritime drug trafficking.

According to Achema, the 400-kilogramme consignment of suspected cannabis, which he identified as Cannabis Indica originating from Thailand, was another major interception in the command’s efforts to prevent illicit drugs from entering the country through the port.

He recalled previous seizures involving two containers of illicit pharmaceutical opioids, including Tramadol 225 and Tramaking Royal 250, with a combined weight of 46 tonnes and an estimated street value of ₦35 billion.

Achema attributed the NDLEA command’s enforcement efforts to the leadership and operational direction of the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd).

He added that the latest interception followed the NDLEA Chairman’s visit to Lekki Port, describing the operation as evidence of the command’s sustained vigilance and intelligence-driven approach.

The NDLEA Commander assured Customs and other partner agencies that the agency would sustain its collaboration with them to strengthen port security and prevent drug traffickers from exploiting maritime trade routes.

Both agencies reiterated their commitment to ensuring that Nigerian ports remain gateways for legitimate commerce rather than channels for illicit drug trafficking.