The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command (TCIPC), has intercepted a massive consignment of illicit drugs concealed inside imported vehicles from Canada, in what officials described as one of the largest seizures of the year.
The interception, announced during a press briefing on Friday, October 24, 2025, was made possible through coordinated intelligence operations involving Customs officers and other security agencies. According to Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the Area Controller of TCIPC, two 40-foot containers originating from Montreal, Canada, were flagged and thoroughly examined after intelligence indicated suspicious contents.
“The Command’s officers discovered various quantities of dangerous narcotics skillfully concealed within eight imported vehicles,” Onyeka said. The items included 156 packets of Colorado Indica (a strain of cannabis) weighing 78 kilograms, 1.2 kilograms of Hashish oil, 2,081 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing 1,093 kilograms, and 8 kilograms of Crystal Meth, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦5.304 billion.
The Customs chief described the interception as a strong signal of the Service’s renewed resolve to curb transnational drug trafficking and safeguard Nigeria’s economy. “The Command wishes to sound a clear warning to all individuals or groups involved in smuggling illicit drugs. Such nefarious activities not only sabotage the national economy but also pose severe risks to national security, public health, and biodiversity,” he declared.
Onyeka emphasized that the Tin Can Island Port Command remains committed to leveraging intelligence, technology, and inter-agency collaboration to secure Nigeria’s borders. He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for providing strategic leadership and fostering cooperation with other security agencies.
Following established protocol, the seized drugs were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Receiving the consignment, Commander Daniel Onyishi, head of the NDLEA Tin Can Strategic Command, praised the Customs Service for its vigilance and professionalism. “This level of inter-agency collaboration is critical to national security. The NDLEA remains resolute in ensuring that all seized narcotics are fully investigated and destroyed in accordance with the law,” he stated.
Comptroller Onyeka also commended his officers and men for their dedication and professionalism, urging them to “remain alert, maintain integrity, and continue to uphold the Service’s reputation in the fight against smuggling and illegal trade.”
The latest seizure reinforces growing collaboration between Customs and NDLEA as both agencies intensify the crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking operations threatening Nigeria’s borders.
