Officers from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command, in a landmark collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), delivered a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks by intercepting 30 slabs of high-grade cocaine totaling 30.1 kilograms. The contraband was meticulously concealed onboard the MV Aruna, a Marshall Islands-flagged general cargo vessel, at the bustling Greenview Terminal within Apapa Port, Lagos Nigeria’s premier maritime gateway.
The operation unfolded on Friday, January 2, 2026, marking the very first working day of the new year. Acting on credible intelligence, joint teams conducted a thorough search of the vessel, uncovering the cocaine hidden in sophisticated compartments designed to evade routine inspections. This interception underscores the evolving tactics of smugglers who target Apapa Port’s high-volume traffic to infiltrate West Africa with narcotics destined for global markets.
Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, commended the officers for their unwavering vigilance, professionalism, and seamless inter-agency cooperation. “This achievement is a testament to the strong synergy between federal security agencies and our relentless pursuit of intelligence-led enforcement,” Oshoba stated during a briefing at the port. “Criminal elements may seek to outsmart us with clever disguises in import, export, or transit cargo, but our officers remain one step ahead. Under my watch, no smuggling attempt will succeed.”
Describing the seizure as a “bold opening statement for 2026,” Comptroller Oshoba reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit trade, which threatens national security, public health, and economic stability. In accordance with established protocols, the NDLEA has taken possession of the seized cocaine for forensic analysis, further investigation, and prosecution of all involved parties, including potential ship crew or international handlers.
This latest success builds on the joint NCS-NDLEA team’s impressive track record. Just two weeks prior, they seized 25.5 kilograms of cocaine expertly hidden within five bags aboard another vessel, again based on actionable intelligence. Earlier, on December 11, 2025, the agencies uncovered 1,187 kilograms of “Canadian Loud” a premium, highly potent strain of cannabis commanding exorbitant street prices packaged into 2,374 individual parcels across 55 bags and concealed inside imported vehicles within a single 1x40ft container. These operations have dismantled key smuggling routes and prevented millions in potential revenue loss to drug cartels.