By Fred JEREMIAH, Lagos
In a decisive operation against international drug trafficking, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted 30 slabs of cocaine weighing 30.1 kilograms aboard the MV Aruna, a vessel registered under the Marshall Islands flag.
The seizure took place on Friday, January 2, 2026—the first working day of the new year—at the Greenview Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos. The narcotics were expertly concealed within the ship, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by smugglers targeting Nigeria’s busiest seaport.
In his remarks, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, Area Customs Controller of the Apapa Command, said, “The importance of inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-driven enforcement cannot be overemphasized. This operation sends a strong message to criminal networks: we are alert, coordinated, and committed to protecting our borders. ”
The NDLEA has since taken custody of the seized cocaine for further investigation and prosecution.
His words: “This marks the third major drug bust by the NCS-NDLEA team in recent weeks. Just two weeks earlier, 25.5kg of cocaine was discovered hidden in five bags aboard another vessel. On December 11, 2025, authorities also uncovered 1,187kg of “Canadian Loud”—a potent strain of cannabis—packed in 2,374 parcels across 55 bags, concealed within imported vehicles inside a 40-foot container.”
Comptroller Oshoba reaffirmed, the command’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit trade, pledging continued vigilance to safeguard national security while facilitating legitimate commerce.
