National Security Threat: NCS Intercepts ₦921 Million Worth of Prohibited Goods At Apapa Port

National Security Threat:
NCS Intercepts ₦921 Million Worth of Prohibited Goods At Apapa Port
…….seizes 113 units of drones, 10 professional walkie-talkies

By Frank Odinukaeze

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of prohibited and unregistered imports valued at over ₦921 million from the Apapa Port between January and April 2025, in a sweeping operation that highlights an alarming rise in sophisticated smuggling tactics.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, the Comptroller General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, disclosed that the seizures included a disturbing volume of unregistered pharmaceutical products, expired food items, and controlled technologies such as drones and communication devices.

Adeniyi emphasized that the operation, carried out under the authority of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, is part of the Service’s commitment to public accountability and its role in national security and public health protection.
A Breakdown of Seizures:
The Apapa Command recorded a total of eleven major seizures:

*Five 40-foot containers and two 20-foot containers

*Four additional seizures involving loosely concealed contraband.
Among the most significant interceptions were:
*891 cartons of various unregistered sexual enhancement drugs in container CAAU 6514500 valued at ₦142.3 million

* 1,001 cartons of mis-declared sildenafil citrate tablets falsely presented as omeprazole, worth ₦143.2 million

* Two 20-foot containers filled with expired margarine, each valued at over ₦120 million

* 113 units of drones and 10 professional walkie-talkies imported without End-User Certificates

Pharmaceuticals alone accounted for 63.7% of the total seizure value.

The Comptroller General raised alarm over increasingly deceptive tactics employed by smuggling networks,these include:

*Mis-declaration of pharmaceutical products as general merchandise or cosmetics

*Importation from countries with weak pharmaceutical export controls

*Diversification of contraband types within single shipments, suggesting organized criminal syndicates.
He also noted an uptick in unregulated sexual enhancement drugs, raising public health concerns over their unchecked usage.
Adeniyi stressed that the rise in unauthorized imports of drones and telecommunications equipment poses a new kind of threat, one that could aid non-state actors and criminal elements. The seizures, he said, reflect not only commercial smuggling but also activities with potential national security consequences.
The NCS Chief praised the vigilance and professionalism of officers at the Apapa Port Command and acknowledged the crucial role played by partner agencies including NAFDAC, NDLEA, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“These seizures are a testament to the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation and our intelligence-led enforcement strategy,” he said, revealing a 34.6% increase in narcotics interceptions compared to Q1 2024.

The Service reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on smuggling and import violations, calling on stakeholders and the public to remain vigilant. Adeniyi encouraged the use of NCS’s confidential reporting channels to help curb illicit trade.

“We will deploy all resources to protect Nigeria’s borders and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our citizens,” he concluded.