The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a significant consignment of cocaine valued at N2.35 billion, along with other prohibited items including explosives, petrol, and synthetic cannabis. The total worth of recent seizures now exceeds N5.5 billion, according to an announcement by the agency.
Comptroller Gambo Aliyu of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, made this known on Tuesday in Lagos during a handover ceremony of confiscated narcotics and suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). He detailed that operatives had thwarted 473 smuggling attempts over an eight-week period, calling it a major breakthrough in anti-smuggling efforts.
The cocaine was seized during a targeted operation along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, where officers intercepted a Toyota Highlander carrying the illicit substance. A 71-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the incident. Aliyu noted that the seizures occurred across multiple states—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo—and several individuals have been taken into custody.
In addition to the narcotics, the customs unit also recovered four 80-kilogram cylinders of mercury, a hazardous material under international environmental regulations. The mercury will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
Aliyu highlighted that enforcement was intensified under ‘Operation Hawk,’ a targeted initiative to dismantle narcotics trafficking networks. This operation led to the seizure of 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis, weighing a total of 1,540 kilogrammes. Furthermore, the unit recovered N97.7 million from underpaid duties between February 3 and April 28, 2026, through heightened enforcement actions.
The cumulative duty-paid value of all seizures stands at over N5.5 billion, demonstrating sustained efforts to combat economic sabotage. Aliyu also revealed the use of advanced technologies such as geospatial intelligence, satellite imagery, drones, and predictive analytics to monitor and intercept smuggling activities.
The seized drugs and three suspects were formally transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution. Receiving the items, NDLEA Commander Ibrahim Kabiru commended the customs operatives for their professionalism and collaboration. He confirmed receiving two parcels of suspected cocaine weighing 2.30kg, four parcels of crack cocaine weighing 4.05kg, 3,340 cannabis parcels, and three suspects. Kabiru emphasized that these interceptions send a strong message that Lagos and its environs are not safe havens for drug trafficking and praised the ongoing partnership between the agencies.