The Nigeria Customs Service, on Wednesday, handed over nine containers of seized hard drugs, expired, fake and prohibited pharmaceutical products with a duty-paid value of N53.391 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Apapa, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the seizures reflected the outcome of diligent intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration aimed at protecting public health and national security.
He said the seizures were made by the Apapa Area Command following intelligence gathering, scanning analysis, physical examination and collaboration with the NDLEA.
Adeniyi said the event, coming days after the commemoration of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders, safeguarding public health and strengthening national security through intelligence-driven border management.
He said the seizures included a 40-foot container with registration number CAAU7569127 containing 3,639 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,819.5 kilograms, concealed alongside three imported vehicles and assorted automobile spare parts.
He added that another 40-foot container, with registration number HAMU3246311, contained 9,918 sachets of cannabis sativa weighing approximately 4.95 metric tonnes, concealed alongside two imported vehicles and household items.
According to him, another 40-foot container, with registration number MRKU3816476, contained 1,700 cartons of codeine syrup concealed with 38 cartons of insulated casserole dishes.
“Another 40-foot container with registration number TGBU5399178 conveying 1,698 cartons of codeine syrup concealed inside 36 cartons of casserole products; a 40-foot container, HASU4519480, conveying 1,300 cartons of expired pharmaceutical products, including tramadol; a 40-foot container with registration number MRKU4961275 conveying 1,269 cartons of expired pharmaceutical products, including oxytocin injections, Mexclor eye drops and carbamazepine tablets; another consignment in a 40-foot container with registration number PCIU8771576 comprising expired pharmaceutical products, including cloxicillin capsules, Cynamine 12 Vitamin B12 injections and Becoline B-Complex injections. All intercepted for regulatory action,” Adeniyi said.
He added that a 20-foot container with registration number MRKU6964435 containing Piccan teething powder and another 40-foot container with registration number TCKU7000791 containing 1,100 packages of Chacold chlorpheniramine maleate capsules bearing a fake National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control registration number and an expiry date of December 2028 were also seized.
“Cumulatively, these nine seizures have a duty-paid value of N53.391 billion only,” he said.
The Customs boss said the seizures resulted from intelligence analysis and non-intrusive inspection.
According to him, although the consignments initially appeared legitimate, detailed verification of the NAFDAC certificate presented by the declarant revealed that the products were not registered with the agency.
Adeniyi said the use of fake registration numbers and supporting documentation indicated a deliberate attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into Nigeria, posing a serious threat to public health.
“Consequently, the consignment was seized in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and will be handed over to NAFDAC for further regulatory action and investigation,” he said.
“They represent lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines,” he said.
The CGC warned that the importation of expired pharmaceuticals and controlled substances poses a direct threat to public health, while the sophisticated concealment methods employed by criminal networks demonstrated their determination to exploit legitimate trade channels for illicit purposes.
He, however, said the interceptions also showed that the NCS possessed the intelligence capability, technological capacity and operational readiness to detect and disrupt such criminal activities.
“In accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, narcotic drugs falling within the statutory jurisdiction of the NDLEA will today be formally handed over to the agency for further investigation and prosecution. Similarly, expired pharmaceutical products will be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal,” he said.
He explained that where prohibited items were concealed alongside vehicles, automobile spare parts or other imported goods, only the narcotic drugs and expired pharmaceuticals would be handed over, while the remaining items would remain in Customs’ custody for seizure, forfeiture, condemnation, revenue recovery and other enforcement actions.
Commending officers of the Apapa Area Command, Adeniyi said the service would continue to deepen collaboration with relevant government agencies, the private sector and international partners to prevent criminal organisations from exploiting Nigeria’s ports and borders.
He vowed that every intelligence lead would be pursued, every violation thoroughly investigated and every offender brought to justice.
“We remain committed to building a secure trading environment that protects our economy, safeguards public health and reinforces national security. To those who seek to use our ports to traffic illicit drugs, expired pharmaceuticals or other prohibited goods, let today’s operation send a clear and unmistakable message that Nigeria’s ports are no longer safe havens for smugglers or organised criminal networks. Through technology, intelligence, coordinated border management and the professionalism of our officers, the Nigeria Customs Service is steadily closing the gaps previously exploited by criminal syndicates,” Adeniyi said.
He added that the service would continue to intercept, expose and prosecute all those who threaten the economy, compromise public health or undermine national security.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), while taking over the seized narcotics, described the event as a landmark in the collaboration between the NDLEA and the NCS.
Marwa, represented by Assistant Commander of Narcotics Archie-Abia Ogboba, said, “Together, we have taken 6,778.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica, popularly known as ‘Canadian Loud,’ out of circulation.
Through two major seizures recorded on 15 and 24 June 2026, we send a clear and unequivocal message that we are more determined than ever to dismantle organised criminal syndicates and drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond our borders.”
Marwa added that both seizures resulted from intelligence-led operations conducted by the NDLEA Special Investigation Unit and Marine Intelligence Unit in collaboration with foreign partners, particularly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
“Over four months, actionable intelligence was carefully developed, and our marine surveillance officers tracked the vessels and containers throughout their journey until both were successfully intercepted,” he said.
One hundred and thirty persons have been arrested after men of the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI raided a suspected fraud compound in Ghana and arrested more than 130 people.
The FBI Director, Kash Patel, disclosed this in a post shared on his official X account on Thursday.
Patel said the operation, codenamed “Operation Blackout”, was carried out in the week as part of the FBI’s efforts to dismantle global scam centres.
“OPERATION BLACKOUT: This is the FBI’s global scam-centre fraud demolition. Another takedown this week out of Ghana,” Patel wrote.
He said the operation had so far resulted in nearly $10m in identified losses, 89 victims identified, more than 130 individuals arrested or detained, including victims who would be repatriated to their home countries, and more than 300 devices seized.
“Investigation is ongoing. These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives – and this @FBI is crushing them in every corner of the world. More to come,” he said.
Patel also gave an update on the overall Operation Blackout figures, saying roughly $17bn had been seized, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested and thousands of trafficked workers freed.
He added that more than 10,000 Americans had been warned before losing their money, while an estimated $670m in losses had been prevented.
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a suspect, Adewale Arojah, identified as a prophet’s son, for allegedly impersonating a renowned cleric on Facebook and defrauding multiple victims of over N18m under the guise of offering prayers and spiritual assistance.
According to a statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, on Thursday, the arrest followed a complaint lodged on October 3, 2026, by Muyiwa Akogun, popularly known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr. Muyiwa Akogun”.
The command said Akogun alerted the police after members of the public complained about “fraudulent activities being perpetrated in his name through a duplicated Facebook profile.”
“Upon receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro Division, immediately detailed intelligence and detective operatives to track down the perpetrator,” the statement said.
It added that “through sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis, the suspect was tracked to a nearby village in Ajegunle, via the Ilaro/Ibogun axis, where he was successfully apprehended.”
The police said the suspect confessed during interrogation to impersonating the cleric on Facebook.
“During a rigorous interrogation, the suspect confessed to impersonating the real Prophet Akogun on Facebook.
“He admitted to using the cleric’s identity to deliver fake prophecies and offer prayer services to vulnerable individuals, thereby defrauding victims residing both within Nigeria and in the diaspora,” Babaseyi said.
The command said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect allegedly targeted people seeking spiritual assistance through the prophet’s Facebook page.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect systematically targeted victims seeking spiritual assistance on the said prophet’s Facebook page, gains their trust and swindled them of funds amounting to over ₦18 million,” it said.
The suspect has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
The command said the investigation would be used to ascertain the extent of the crime, identify potential accomplices, and ensure possible prosecution.
The command said the arrest was part of its efforts to tackle online fraud and identity theft in the state.
“The swift arrest highlights the Ogun State Police Command’s resolve to dismantle online fraud networks, curb identity theft, and deny cybercriminals safe space to operate across the state,” Babaseyi said.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ilaro operatives for what the statement described as their “vigilance, tactical discipline, and swift response”.
The CP also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting residents from digital and physical threats.
The command advised members of the public to exercise caution when dealing with religious leaders and public figures on social media.
“The Command advises members of the public to exercise caution and due diligence when engaging with religious leaders or public figures on social media platforms,” the statement said.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has summoned heads of security agencies in the state to a meeting following a spike in security breaches, particularly recent killings involving rival cult groups in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Samuel Ojo, disclosed this during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, saying the meeting would be held on Wednesday.
Ojo said the meeting would deliberate on and address the killings by suspected cultists in the state.
He added that the meeting would also discuss measures to make forests in the state safer, in view of the recent killing of an ISWAP leader in Owo, Ondo State.
“We are holding a security meeting on Wednesday, by the special grace of God, to reassure our people and put our security agencies on their toes.
“What happened in Ondo is a lesson to those criminals hibernating in the forests.
We will not take it lightly with anyone using the forest as a hideout,” he said.
He further said, “Aside from that, we are also using the meeting to address the incessant killings by rival cult groups in the past weeks.
“We need to meet and discuss how to stop these killings by cult groups or any other violent crimes hiding under that canopy.”
The governor’s aide, who stressed the need to stop the killings to protect Osun’s corporate image, warned perpetrators of violent crimes to desist or face dire consequences.
“We need to stop it, so as not to give our state a bad name, because nobody knows what they are fighting for or why they are killing themselves,” Ojo said.
The PUNCH reports that two separate attacks by members of rival cult groups, which occurred in Osogbo, the state capital, between last Friday and Sunday, left two people dead and about five others injured.
In reaction to the latest cult attack, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, subsequently ordered tactical teams to raid suspected criminal hideouts in Osogbo.
