The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted stolen luxury vehicles and prohibited pharmaceuticals worth N3.2 billion in a major anti-smuggling operation at the nation’s busiest seaport.
Key Seizures
- Two stolen luxury vehicles (2024 Lexus RX 450 and 2023 Lexus RX 350) falsely declared as food items
- 3,388 cartons of codeine syrup concealed in toilet materials (Street value: N2.7 billion)
- Unregistered pharmaceuticals including Rabeprazole and Vancomycin
- 390 bales of used clothing
Operational Details
Customs Area Controller Comptroller Babatunde Olomu revealed the seizures were made through:
- Advanced cargo profiling techniques
- Collaboration with NDLEA and NAFDAC
- Rigorous physical examination of suspicious containers
“These seizures demonstrate our zero-tolerance for smuggling. Apapa Port remains a no-go area for illicit trade,” Olomu stated.
Revenue Milestone
The command announced record-breaking revenue collection:
- N1.09 trillion generated as of May 21, 2025
- Single-day collections exceeding N18.9 billion
New Smuggling Tactics Uncovered
NDLEA’s Assistant Commander Buba Wakawa disclosed:
“After our MoU with India restricted codeine exports, smugglers now route shipments through third countries without regulatory agreements.”
NAFDAC’s Deputy Director Kingsley Odumah praised the inter-agency cooperation, emphasizing its role in protecting public health.