Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the importation of 16 containers loaded with hard drugs, arms, expired pharmaceuticals, frozen chicken, and counterfeit goods, valued at ₦10 billion.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Wale Adeniyi, disclosed this in Lagos while announcing the latest seizures.
Three of the suspects have been remanded in Ikoyi Prison after being charged to court, while two others are on administrative bail.
Adeniyi said the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering, coordinated inspections, and inter-agency collaboration at the ports.
He vowed to track down the fleeing importers and their agents, warning that Nigeria will not become a dumping ground for dangerous goods.
He expressed concern over the clearance of one container later found to contain 202 cans of “Colorado,” a strain of Canadian marijuana.
To prevent similar incidents, Adeniyi said the NCS will conduct joint container examinations with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other agencies.
Other intercepted items included cartons of unregistered toothpaste, medical products, codeine syrup, and other contraband.
The Customs Chief further announced a ban on transferring pharmaceutical goods to bonded terminals lacking the required licensing and compliance standards.
He warned importers and their agents of tougher crackdowns, pledging to work with local and international partners to dismantle smuggling syndicates.
Reporting by John Obot