Customs Intercept 347.5kg Of ‘Canadian Loud’ At Apapa Port

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, announced the interception of 347.5 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle at the Lagos Seaport.

The seizure was made during a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), according to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman.

Sulaiman disclosed that the interception marks the fourth major joint drug bust at Apapa Port by the NCS and NDLEA in the last two months, underscoring the command’s intensified surveillance and enforcement posture.

“In a major joint operation, the NCS, Apapa Port Command, in collaboration with the NDLEA, intercepted 347.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud hidden inside an imported Toyota Sienna vehicle,” the statement said.

The operation, he noted, occurred less than 24 hours after the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, received a World Customs Organisation (WCO) Certificate of Merit, highlighting the command’s renewed commitment to zero tolerance for smuggling.

According to the statement, the illicit substance was concealed in 13 bags hidden within one of four vehicles contained in a single import consignment.

A detailed weighing confirmed the breakdown as 10 bags of 25kg each, one bag of 29kg, and two bags weighing 34.5kg and 34kg respectively, bringing the total to 347.5kg.

Reacting to the seizure, Comptroller Oshoba warned that the command remains vigilant and resolute in protecting society and national security.

“Any attempt by criminal elements to traffic prohibited items through Apapa Port will be detected and thwarted. We remain unwavering in the discharge of our duty to safeguard society and national security,” he said.

The statement further highlighted the strong inter-agency collaboration championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, noting that sustained intelligence sharing and joint operations between the NCS and NDLEA have continued to outmanoeuvre smuggling networks within Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Comptroller Oshoba added that the seizure was a direct result of strengthened partnerships and revealed that the planned deployment of a high-capacity drive-through scanner capable of screening 200 containers per hour would further enhance technology-driven anti-smuggling efforts at the port.

In line with established procedures, the seized 347.5kg of Canadian Loud has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects linked to the consignment.

The interception, the statement noted, aligns with the 2026 International Customs Day (ICD) theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment.” It reaffirmed the Apapa Command’s resolve to facilitate legitimate trade while intensifying efforts to combat illicit activities and protect the public.