Nigeria Customs intercepts 400kg of suspected cannabis worth ₦2.26bn hidden in 798 reams of A4 paper at Lekki Port before handing it over to the NDLEA
Customs Seize ₦2.26bn Cannabis at Lekki Port
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 400 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis valued at ₦2.26bn at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, uncovering the illicit substance concealed in a shipment of A4 printing paper.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lekki Free Trade Zone Command, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday, October 15, 2026, warning that the port would not be allowed to serve as a gateway for prohibited goods.
Kukoyi said customs officers intercepted a suspicious container with registration number PRSU1562064 on August 19, 2026, as it was destined for a bonded terminal outside the command.
“Recognising the potential security implications and risks, a joint team of enforcement officers subjected it to examination,” he said.
A thorough inspection reportedly uncovered 400 packages of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 400 kilogrammes, concealed among 798 reams of A4 printing paper. The seized substance has a Duty Paid Value of ₦2,262,960,000, according to the customs command.
Kukoyi described the interception as a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking, saying the seizure would help protect Nigerians from the devastating consequences of illicit drug distribution and abuse.
The seized substance was subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in line with established procedures.
Receiving the consignment, the Commander of Narcotics at the NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, Commander Jonah Achema, said the operation sent a strong warning to maritime drug traffickers and underscored the agencies’ determination to strengthen their collaboration against narcotics smuggling.
“The seizure being handed over today, 400 kilogrammes of Cannabis Indica from Thailand, is huge by all standards. This is coming after other phenomenal seizures in the port, such as two containers of illicit pharmaceutical opioids – Tramadol 225 and Tramaking Royal 250 – with a total weight of 46 tonnes and an estimated street value of N35 billion,” Achema said. The latest interception highlights continuing enforcement efforts at the Lekki port against the movement of prohibited substances through Nigeria’s maritime trade routes
