Customs Intercept ₦19B Cannabis Hidden In Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Colorado Imported From Canada

Nigeria Customs intercept N19B cannabis hidden in used Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Colorado imported from Canada.

NCS says that the contraband was loaded in a container that was falsely declared to contain only used vehicles.

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Port Command, have intercepted 4,729 kilograms of illicit substances concealed in two used vehicles (Tokunbo) imported from Toronto, Canada.

The contraband, loaded in a container that was falsely declared to contain only used vehicles, comprised 9,458 packages of Cannabis Indica with an estimated street value of ₦18,916,000,000 (₦18.9 billion).

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, disclosed this on Thursday, 30 April, during a press briefing at the Command.

He attributed the success to credible intelligence and strengthened collaboration between Customs officers and the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

“The container, which originated from Canada, was initially declared to contain only used vehicles. However, upon thorough examination, it was discovered to contain 185 jumbo bags of Cannabis Indica concealed with one used 2010 Toyota Camry and one used 2023 Chevrolet Colorado”, he said.

According to him, the operation aligns with a recent agreement signed on 27 April 2026 between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), to strengthen synergy against drug trafficking.

Comptroller Onyeka commended the NDLEA for providing the intelligence that led to the breakthrough, stressing the level of concealment used by smugglers.

“These items were intercepted as soon as the vessel berthed at 0300 hours. They were concealed inside vehicles. As I said earlier, it will take you, as a dedicated customs officer, to go through this and identify them. However, it was very easy for us because we had intel from the NDLEA,” Comptroller Onyeka said.

Upon receiving the illicit items, the NDLEA Commander at the Tincan Island Strategic Command, Solomon Omotosho, commended the Area Controller and his team for their swift response and expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between the two agencies would continue to yield positive results.

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