Joyce Mmereole Okoli
In a major disruption to international drug trafficking operations, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, in a coordinated operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted 30 slabs of cocaine weighing 30.1 kilograms concealed onboard MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel.
The illicit consignment was discovered on Friday, January 2, 2026, the first official working day of the year at the Greenview Terminal in Apapa Port, Lagos. The cocaine was expertly concealed within the vessel, reflecting the advanced concealment methods increasingly adopted by global drug syndicates seeking to exploit Nigeria’s busiest seaport.
Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, commended officers of both agencies for their diligence, alertness, and professionalism.
“This operation underscores the strength of our inter-agency collaboration and the effectiveness of our intelligence-driven enforcement strategy.
“Criminal networks may deploy sophisticated tricks, but our officers remain several steps ahead. Under my watch, no smuggling attempt whether import, export, or transit will succeed,” he said.
He described the seizure as a strong and symbolic start to 2026, reaffirming the command’s zero-tolerance stance against illicit activities. As procedure demands, the NDLEA has taken custody of the seized cocaine for further investigation and possible prosecution of the perpetrators.
This interception follows two major drug seizures by the NCS and NDLEA team in recent weeks. Barely two weeks earlier, the joint team seized 25.5kg of cocaine hidden in five bags aboard another vessel following credible intelligence.
Similarly, on December 11, 2025, operatives uncovered 1,187kg of Canadian Loud, a high-value strain of cannabis, packaged in 2,374 parcels and concealed within imported vehicles inside a 40-foot container.
Comptroller Oshoba reiterated that the Apapa Command remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade while upholding national security and protecting Nigeria’s borders from criminal infiltration.
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