Customs Uncover Stolen Canadian SUVs, Codeine, and Contraband Worth N3.2 Billion at Apapa Port

By Achimi Muktar

In one of the largest seizures of 2025, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Apapa Area Command have intercepted a trove of contraband goods—including two stolen luxury vehicles smuggled from Canada and containers of banned pharmaceuticals—valued at a staggering N3.2 billion.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller, revealed that the illicit cargo included a brand-new 2024 Lexus RX 450 and a 2023 Lexus RX 350, concealed inside a 40-foot container and falsely declared as food items.

“The container, MRKU 0904594, was deceitfully labeled to mislead authorities, but upon inspection, we discovered two high-end vehicles reported stolen from Canada,” Olomu stated.

Cracking Down on Codeine and Counterfeit Drugs

Even more alarming was the seizure of five additional containers loaded with unregistered and prohibited pharmaceuticals, including over 3,300 cartons of codeine syrup—a highly addictive substance currently banned from importation in Nigeria. The containers, according to Customs, were cleverly disguised as toilet materials, truck tyres, and kitchenware.

SUDU 8685733: Contained 1,698 cartons of codeine concealed in water closets.

MRSU 4846204: Held 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup hidden inside toilet seats.

Other containers held used clothing, counterfeit cosmetics, and unapproved medications like Rabeprazole, Vancomycin, and Clobetasol creams.

The total street value of the pharmaceutical seizures alone is estimated at over N2.7 billion.

Coordinated Multi-Agency Crackdown

Olomu credited the haul to a collaborative effort with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other stakeholders.

NDLEA’s Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, Mr. Buba Wakawa, explained that traffickers have adapted their smuggling routes after Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to curb codeine exports to the country.

“They’re now using neighboring countries without regulatory agreements. But with strengthened surveillance, we're closing those gaps,” Wakawa added.

Apapa Port Now a Fortress Against Smugglers

In addition to the seizures, Comptroller Olomu declared that the Apapa Command had already surpassed N1.09 trillion in revenue collection as of May 21, 2025—an unprecedented feat achieved even before the year’s mid-point.

“This port will never be a haven for smugglers. Our officers are better equipped, more vigilant, and ready to intercept any illicit cargo,” he said firmly.

NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Port Inspection, Mr. Kingsley Odumah, praised the intelligence-sharing and operational synergy between agencies, calling it a “model for port security and consumer protection.”

With smugglers growing more sophisticated in their concealment tactics, Nigerian authorities are sending a clear message: No matter the disguise, the long arm of the law will always find contraband.