The Port And Terminals MultiServices Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized a huge cocaine shipment valued at ₦29.4 bn in Lagos.
The consignment which was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Joe Anani on Tuesday, 11th November 2025.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the command’s headquarters, Comptroller Anani disclosed that the operatives of the Command had noticed suspicious packages in one of about 39 empty containers meant for export loading and decided to investigate the content where the hard drugs were found. He identified the 1x20ft container with number GCNU1332851 which was from Freetown, Sierra Leone on October 7, 2025.
According to him, the terminal operator alerted the Customs Command leading to the operatives carrying out a joint examination.
Among the agencies that took part in the examination where the hard drugs were discovered include officers of the NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS), Police Anti-Bomb Squad, and other agencies.
He said the drugs were in 50 packages of 20 parcels found during the inspection, adding that the contents, weighed a total of 1,000 kilograms (one tonne) with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦29,403,738,000.
Anani said, “It is important to note that this container did not arrive Nigeria as an import consignment; It was part of a batch of empty containers brought in by the terminal operator for export purposes, he described the finding as very “mysterious cocaine interceptions” as far as the history of the service is concerned.
He added, “This seizure underscores the high level of cooperation and vigilance among our officers, terminal operators, and sister security agencies.
“On behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, we will be handing over the seizure to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and necessary action”.
