The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Lagos, has handed over seized narcotics, pharmaceutical products and mercury valued at about N3.95 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA.
The Comptroller of the unit, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, made the disclosure on Thursday at the formal handover of the seized items at the Unit’s headquarters on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos.
Aliyu said the seizures were the outcome of sustained intelligence driven anti smuggling operations conducted from May 6, 2026, across border corridors, highways and other strategic locations within the Unit’s area of responsibility.
He said the operation targeted drug trafficking syndicates and other criminal networks involved in the movement of prohibited and controlled substances into the country.
Among the items handed over to the NDLEA were 5,669 parcels and 19 sacks of synthetic strain of Cannabis sativa weighing 3,116.9 kilogrammes.
The seizures also included three and a half packs of ground Cannabis Skunk weighing 3.45 kilogrammes, two packs of granulated Cannabis Skunk weighing one kilogramme and 11 small packs weighing 0.35 kilogramme.
Other narcotics recovered were 24 packets of Backwoods Russian Cream cigars, 49 wraps of Cannabis Skunk weighing 26.1 kilogrammes and one wrap of Crystal Methamphetamine weighing 0.35 kilogramme.
The pharmaceutical products comprised 1,754 packs and 6,948 sachets of Tramadol tablets of 225mg and 100mg, 1,200 Hypnox tablets of 1mg and 97 bottles of Codeine syrup.
Aliyu said the seized narcotics had an estimated street value of N3.951 billion, while three suspects arrested in connection with the seizures would also be transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
He added that a truck used in the transportation of the drugs, containing 1,326 packages concealed beneath a false metal top, would also be handed over to the anti narcotics agency in line with established procedures.
The Customs comptroller said the interdiction of the substances was particularly significant because illicit drugs could fuel addiction, violence, criminality and other social problems, while also providing support for criminal networks and terrorists.
He said the Customs Service had intensified surveillance along border corridors ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that the agency recognised the connection between illicit drugs, organised crime and insecurity.
According to him, the seizures demonstrated the impact of coordinated enforcement operations, with Customs focusing on the integrity of the supply chain before transferring suspected offenders and controlled substances to agencies with the statutory mandate for further investigation.
Aliyu also disclosed the seizure of four cylinders of high grade mercury, each weighing 34.5 kilogrammes, allegedly intended for use in illegal gold mining. He said the mercury, which poses significant environmental risks and is subject to international controls under the Minamata Convention, would be handed over to NESREA for appropriate regulatory action.
He stressed that the fight against smuggling, narcotics trafficking and environmental crimes required stronger cooperation among security and regulatory agencies through intelligence sharing, joint operations, coordinated profiling, capacity building and timely transfer of seized items.
The Customs chief commended the NDLEA, NESREA and other sister agencies for their cooperation, assuring that the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, would sustain intelligence led enforcement, surveillance and patrols while facilitating legitimate trade and protecting Nigerians from harmful and prohibited goods.
