Tincan Port: Customs, NDLEA bust massive ₦16.6bn Cannabis shipment from Canada

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted a shipment of cannabis sativa worth over ₦16.6 billion at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

The seizure involved 8,347 packages of cannabis weighing 4,173.5 kilograms concealed in a 40-foot container shipped from Canada.

The illicit consignment was formally handed over to the NDLEA during a joint press briefing held at the port.

Speaking at the event, Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, described the interception as another major breakthrough in the fight against transnational drug trafficking.

He said the seizure highlights the continued attempts by criminal syndicates to exploit Nigerian ports for the importation of dangerous substances, while also demonstrating the vigilance and growing collaboration among security agencies.

According to Onyeka, the container, identified as HAMU247034, was flagged for inspection after intelligence reports raised suspicion over its contents.

Officers of the Enforcement Unit subsequently subjected the container to a detailed physical examination, leading to the discovery of the concealed drugs.

“The container was found to contain 8,347 packages of cannabis sativa weighing 4,173.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of ₦16.6 billion. This is not just another seizure; it is a deliberate attempt by criminal elements to undermine national security and profit from the destruction of innocent lives, especially our youths,” Onyeka said.

He assured Nigerians that the command would intensify surveillance, strengthen intelligence gathering, and deepen inter-agency collaboration to curb drug smuggling through the nation’s ports.

Onyeka also warned officers or collaborators aiding criminal networks that the service would prosecute anyone found compromising national security.

“We are determined to go beyond seizures. Those behind these shipments will be identified, traced, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he added.

NDLEA officials later conducted an on-the-spot test using a United Nations drug testing kit, which confirmed the seized substance as cannabis sativa.

Director of Seaport Operations at the NDLEA, ACGN Ibinabo Achie Abia, described the operation as a major victory against transnational organised crime.

She disclosed that the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance involving both local and international agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

According to Abia, the shipment originated from Toronto, Canada, on March 28, 2026, and passed through multiple transit points, including Montreal, in an attempt to evade detection.

She said the seizure reflects the effectiveness of the recently renewed Memorandum of Understanding between NDLEA and Customs aimed at strengthening operational synergy.

The seized drugs and vehicles linked to the operation have been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation, prosecution, and forfeiture in line with extant laws.