Customs seizes 25.5kg Cocaine hidden aboard Brazilian vessel in Apapa

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 25.5 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed aboard a Brazilian vessel, MV San Anthonio, following an intelligence-led operation that led to the detention of the ship on Saturday in Lagos.

Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed the development in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Suleiman.

He said the illicit substance, packaged in 24 slabs and hidden in five bags, was uncovered during a detailed examination of the vessel.

Oshoba described the seizure as a testament to the strengthened collaboration between the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He revealed that profiling of the vessel showed that after departing Brazil, the ship made stops in Honduras, Guatemala and other known narcotics transit points—raising red flags that prompted heightened scrutiny on arrival in Nigeria.

Reaffirming the Customs Service’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit trade, Oshoba said the Command was fully aligned with directives issued by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, to ensure Apapa Port remains a hub for legitimate commerce only.

“This operation is a product of sustained intelligence and synergy between the NCS and NDLEA,” he said.

“The seizure and the detention of the vessel should serve as a clear warning to criminal networks attempting to exploit our port system. No syndicate can outsmart our coordinated security architecture.”

He added that with the festive season approaching, Customs would not compromise national security in the name of trade facilitation.

All consignments exiting Apapa Port, he said, would undergo rigorous checks to verify their contents.

The NDLEA Commander at the Apapa Strategic Command, Haliru Umar, received the seized drugs and commended Customs for what he described as a major breakthrough. He assured that the NDLEA would deepen investigations and keep Customs updated as the case progresses.