On Thursday, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Murtala Muhammed Airport Command revealed the confiscation of illegal drugs valued at over N5.1 billion, smuggled into Nigeria from India and Canada.
Comptroller Michael Awe, the Customs Area Controller, made this announcement while presenting the seized substances at the Command’s Lagos headquarters.
He noted that no arrests have been made in connection with the bust so far. The confiscated drugs are set to be transferred to the National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for comprehensive investigation.
The haul comprises 121 packs of Canadian Cannabis, with a duty-paid value of N1.4 billion; 294,000 tablets of 225mg Tramadol HCL worth N1.2 billion; Pregabalin 300mg valued at N1.2 billion; Norflex nafdac-seizes-fake-malaria-drugs-lagos/” title=”… Seizes Counterfeit Malaria Drugs Worth ….2 Billion in Lagos, Protecting Public Health”>50mg worth N800 million; and Sardalud 2mg tablets valued at N495 million, totaling approximately N5.1 billion.
“On July 30, 2025, a shipment identified by AWB number 235-63882254, consisting of two packages, was under close watch before being moved from the NAHCO Import Shed to the government warehouse. Upon joint inspection, it was discovered that the packages, disguised as containing a duvet, concealed 121 packs of Canadian Cannabis Sativa with a duty-paid value of N1.4 billion,” Comptroller Awe explained.
He added, “Similarly, on September 24, 2025, another shipment with AWB-071-58012706, comprising six packages, was also flagged and transferred from the SAHCO Import Shed to the government warehouse. Examination revealed 294,000 tablets of 225mg Tramadol HCL, valued at N1.2 billion.”
Further inspections uncovered additional controlled substances, including Pregabalin (300mg), Sardalud (2mg), and Norflex (50mg) tablets.
“In a related seizure on September 17, 2025, two consignments bearing AWB numbers 071-58231670 and 071-58234433 were intercepted and moved from the NAHCO Import Shed to the government warehouse. These shipments contained Pregabalin 300mg, Sardalud 2mg, and Norflex 50mg tablets-controlled medications imported without the necessary certification,” he added.
Comptroller Awe highlighted a particularly alarming aspect of the seizure: the illicit drugs were falsely labeled as 50mg Diclofenac Sodium.
“This deceptive labeling represents a serious risk to public health,” he warned.
He urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing medications, emphasizing the importance of buying only from trusted and verified sources.
Reaffirming the Command’s strict stance, Awe declared zero tolerance for the smuggling of illegal and controlled drugs through Lagos Airport.
Supporting the operation, NAFDAC Assistant Director Pham Nwude Kelechi described the seizure as astonishing and pledged full cooperation with Customs for ongoing investigations.
Nwude also vowed that no individual involved in the illicit importation of drugs through Lagos Airport would evade justice.
