The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has kicked off the 2026 fiscal year with a massive security breakthrough, intercepting 30.1 kilograms of cocaine at the Lagos port.
The high-stakes seizure was the result of a seamless joint operation between Customs and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The illicit shipment, meticulously packaged into 30 slabs, was discovered on Friday, January 2, 2026—the first working day of the year—concealed aboard the MV Aruna, a vessel flagged by the Marshall Islands currently docked at the Greenview Terminal.
Zero Tolerance for 2026
The Customs Area Controller for Apapa, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, hailed the “intelligence-led enforcement” that led to the discovery.
The Customs Area Controller for Apapa, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, hailed the “intelligence-led enforcement” that led to the discovery.
“Criminal elements seek to outsmart us, but our officers remain one step ahead,” Oshoba stated. “This achievement reflects the strong inter-agency synergy and our zero-tolerance stance on illicit trade in 2026. No smuggling attempt, whether disguised as import, export, or transit, will succeed under my watch.”
A Pattern of Persistence
This latest bust marks the third major drug interception at the Apapa Port in less than a month, highlighting a surge in attempted smuggling during the holiday season:
This latest bust marks the third major drug interception at the Apapa Port in less than a month, highlighting a surge in attempted smuggling during the holiday season:
- Late December 2025: 25.5kg of cocaine was intercepted aboard another vessel.
- December 11, 2025: A staggering 1,187kg of “Canadian Loud” (high-grade cannabis) was found hidden inside imported vehicles in a 40-foot container.
Next Steps
In line with national security protocols, the 30.1kg of cocaine has been officially handed over to the NDLEA for deeper investigation and the prosecution of the suspects linked to the Marshall Islands-flagged ship.
In line with national security protocols, the 30.1kg of cocaine has been officially handed over to the NDLEA for deeper investigation and the prosecution of the suspects linked to the Marshall Islands-flagged ship.
Authorities have vowed to intensify their vigilance at the nation’s premier port to ensure national security remains uncompromised as global trade volumes increase in 2026.