Customs Seizes Cannabis Indica, value N16.7 Billion, Says No Hidding Place For Drug Barons,
By Ovie Edomi
When on 30th of April, 2026, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Area Command briefed the public on a major interception of illicit drugs worth billions of Naira, made through intelligence and collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, what he did not tell anyone was that the Nigeria Customs Service particularly, Tin Can Island Command, was on the watch out for more of such illicit drugs from Canada based on intelligence gathering and collaboration.
It paid off as men of the Nigeria Customs Service under the watch of Comptroller Frank Onyeka, bounced on another Container allegedly ladden with vehicle as soon as it arrived Tin Can Port on May 9, 2026. Before the consignment could develop wings and fly, the eagle eye officers under Comptroller Frank Onyeka, swooped on the container.
While handing over the seizure to the NDLEA, Frank Onyeka noted: “This tells us two things. First, criminal networks are still desperate to use our ports to push dangerous substances into the country. Second, and more importantly, it shows that our officers and sister security agencies are alert, focused, and fully committed to stopping them”.
According to the Tin Can Island Customs Area Controller, ” Acting on credible intelligence gathered jointly by the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA, officers of the Enforcement unit intercepted and subjected a 1x40ft container with number HAMU 247034/8 to a thorough physical examination. Consequently, the container which also originated from Canada, just like the previous one was found to contain 8,347 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing a total of 4,173.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of N16,694,000,000 (Sixteen Billion, Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Million Naira).
Comptroller Frank Onyeka who noted that the attempt to bring illicit drugs into Nigeria, represents a deliberate attempt by criminal elements to jeopardize National Security, endanger lives and profit from the destruction of our hardworking young and women of our country, warned those aiding such criminal activities to desist from it.
In his words “Let me assure Nigerians that this Command is not relenting. If anything, recent events have strengthened our resolve. We will continue to intensify surveillance, deepen intelligence gathering, and sustain our collaboration with the NDLEA and other security agencies to ensure more interceptions are made.We are also determined to go beyond seizures. Those behind these shipments will be identified, traced, arrested, and prosecuted. Let me also clearly warn any insider collaborators aiding these criminal activities: the Command will not spare anyone found compromising national security for personal gain. No matter how long it takes, such individuals will be tracked down and dealt with according to the law”.
The Tin Can Island Customs Area controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka equally commended his boss, the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR psc (+) PhD as well as the Chairman Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA Brigadier General Buba Marwa CFR (Rtd) for the successful partnership agreement reached in the interest of National Security and the fight against illicit activities.
According to Onyeka, “This development is a clear demonstration of the commitment of both agencies towards strengthening inter-agency collaboration and Intelligence sharing.
For now, Onyeka says there is no looking back on the fight against smuggling and drug trafficking. We can not allow criminals endanger the lives of our citizens or play with our national security, he stressed.