Customs, NDLEA Intercept 30 Slabs of Cocaine at Apapa Port

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, working in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted 30 slabs of substances confirmed to be cocaine aboard the MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands flagged vessel.

The interception was carried out on Friday at the Greenview Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos, dealing an early New Year setback to international drug trafficking syndicates operating through Nigeria’s busiest seaport.

In a statement, the Apapa Port Command Public Relations Officer of Customs, Isah Sulaiman, disclosed that the illicit consignment was carefully concealed onboard the vessel, reflecting the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by smugglers to evade detection.

Commending the operatives for their vigilance, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, described the seizure as a strong opening statement for 2026 and a clear reaffirmation of the command’s zero-tolerance stance against illicit trade, in line with established operational protocols.

The NDLEA has since taken custody of the seized cocaine to enable further investigation and the prosecution of suspects linked to the shipment.

The interception represents the third major drug seizure recorded by the joint NCS–NDLEA task team in recent weeks, underscoring intensified enforcement efforts to disrupt drug trafficking activities through Nigeria’s seaports.