The Apapa Space Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted two stolen luxurious autos smuggled in from Canada and seized a number of containers of prohibited objects price a mixed Responsibility Paid Worth (DPV) of N3.2 billion.
This was disclosed by the Customs Space Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, throughout a press briefing held in Lagos on Thursday.
Olomu mentioned the stolen autos; one 2024 mannequin Lexus RX 450 and a 2023 Lexus RX 350, have been hid in a 40ft container and falsely declared as meals objects.
“Container No. MRKU 0904594 (40 FT) was discovered to include two stolen autos from Canada. A 2024 mannequin Lexus RX 450 car with chassis quantity JTJCJNGA6R2017707 and one other 2023 Lexus RX 350 with chassis quantity 2T2BAMCAPCO32741 have been falsely declared as meals objects,” Olomu mentioned.
The customs boss additionally revealed the interception of 5 containers full of unlawful prescribed drugs, used clothes, and cosmetics, which have been violations of Nigeria’s import rules.
“On account of our painstaking efforts, we just lately uncovered six containers laden with prohibited objects, principally unregistered prescribed drugs. Different objects seized within the containers are cosmetics, used clothes, and two autos illegally imported into the nation.
“These above-mentioned seizures are price a complete DPV of N3.247 billion,” he mentioned
In keeping with Olomu, the 2 40-foot containers, SUDU 8685733 and MRSU 4846204, have been intercepted with a complete of three,388 cartons of codeine syrup hid in rest room supplies. The mixed avenue worth of the seizures is N2.7 billion.
Olomu famous that the seizures have been made doable by way of collaboration with the Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA).
Olomu additionally introduced that the command had crossed the N1 trillion mark in income assortment as of Might 21, 2025.
“Let me use this briefing to tell you that having crossed the one trillion-naira assortment earlier than the top of the fifth month, we’ve got up to now generated a complete of N1.09 trillion as of 21 Might 2025.”
“As an example, in October 2024, we collected N18.2 billion; on March 14, 2025, we recorded a feat of N18.9 billion, and on twentieth Might 2025, we made one other record-breaking assortment of N18.919 billion,” he mentioned
Assistant Commander Common of Narcotics on the NDLEA, Mr. Buba Wakawa, revealed that smugglers have resorted to routing shipments by way of international locations with out regulatory agreements with Nigeria following the company’s MoU with India.
“NDLEA signed an MOU with India to cease producing codeine to Nigerian importers, that’s the reason they’ve gone to the extent of utilizing neighbouring international locations that doesn’t have MOU with them. I believe with the synergy that is happening now, we’re closing that hole, and we are going to checkmate them.”
The Customs boss warned that the Apapa port wouldn’t function a protected haven for smugglers and vowed to accentuate enforcement.
“Let me use this briefing to warn that Apapa port will stay a no-go space for any illegal exercise, and our officers are very a lot able to uncover concealment and impact seizures or arrest the place mandatory.”
Deputy Director of Port Inspection at NAFDAC, Mr. Kingsley Odumah, applauded the multi-agency cooperation aimed toward stemming the inflow of faux and unregistered prescribed drugs.
