Customs cocaine haul
The Nigeria Customs Service has announced the arrest of a 71-year-old man allegedly found with a Customs cocaine haul valued at about N2.35bn, in one of the latest major seizures recorded by the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja.
The Customs Area Controller of the unit, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed the arrest on Tuesday in Ikeja, Lagos State, while displaying seized contraband items to journalists. According to the service, officers intercepted a Toyota Highlander along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor and discovered 6.35kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of N2.35bn.
The suspect, whose case is expected to be transferred for further investigation, was arrested during a separate anti-smuggling operation. Customs said the discovery formed part of intensified enforcement activities across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo states, where officers reportedly foiled 473 smuggling attempts within eight weeks.
The Customs cocaine haul is significant not only because of the value of the substance but also because of the profile of the suspect. The arrest of a 71-year-old man raises fresh concerns about the changing methods used by trafficking networks, especially where older persons may allegedly be used in the hope of avoiding suspicion.
However, it is important to stress that the suspect remains presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. At this stage, Customs has made an allegation and recorded a seizure. The final legal responsibility will depend on investigation, prosecution and the evidence presented in court.
According to Aliyu, the cocaine was not the only major seizure recorded by the command. The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, also intercepted contraband worth more than N5.5bn within the same eight-week period. The seized items included 8,794 bags of foreign rice, equivalent to about 15 trailer loads; 22 used vehicles; 1,863 used refrigerator compressors; and 328 bales of used clothing.
Other intercepted goods included 31,705 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 1,188 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 531 cartons of poultry products, 485 used tyres and 69 cartons of spaghetti. The command said the seizures were made across several South-West states, with suspects arrested in connection with various offences.
The Customs cocaine haul also came as the unit intensified its anti-drug operation known as Operation Hawk, a special enforcement exercise designed to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks. Under the operation, Customs said it seized 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,540kg.
Reports from other outlets said the seized narcotics were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution. NDLEA officials reportedly received the suspected substances, including cocaine and synthetic cannabis, as part of inter-agency collaboration between Customs and the anti-drug agency.
This inter-agency cooperation is central to the Customs cocaine haul story. Customs is primarily responsible for border enforcement, revenue protection and anti-smuggling operations. But when seized items involve narcotics, NDLEA becomes the appropriate agency for deeper investigation and prosecution. That handover process helps ensure that the case is handled under the correct legal framework.
The Lagos-Abidjan corridor, where the Toyota Highlander was reportedly intercepted, is one of West Africa’s important trade and movement routes. It connects several coastal economies and is used for legitimate commerce, transport and regional movement. But enforcement agencies have long warned that such busy corridors can also be exploited by smugglers and traffickers.
That is why the latest Customs cocaine haul should be seen within a broader security and economic context. Smuggling affects public safety, government revenue, local industries and border integrity. When narcotics are involved, the stakes become even higher because the matter shifts from customs violation to organised crime and public safety risk.
https://ogelenews.ng/customs-cocaine-haul
Aliyu also disclosed that the unit recovered N97.7m from underpaid duties between February 3 and April 28, 2026, through demand notices and compliance enforcement. This shows that the operation was not only about prohibited goods but also about revenue recovery and customs compliance.
The command further intercepted four cylinders of mercury weighing 80kg each. Aliyu described mercury as a hazardous substance regulated under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international agreement aimed at protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution.
For Customs, the seizures represent a major operational success. For citizens, they show the scale of illegal movement of goods across borders and the need for stronger enforcement. The fact that officers recorded hundreds of attempted smuggling cases in just eight weeks suggests that the pressure on Nigeria’s borders remains intense.
The Customs cocaine haul also raises questions about the networks behind such movements. A single driver may be arrested at the point of interception, but investigators will need to determine whether the suspect was acting alone or as part of a wider trafficking arrangement. That is where NDLEA’s follow-up investigation becomes important.
In public-interest reporting, the focus must remain on verified facts. Customs has confirmed the arrest of a 71-year-old suspect, the seizure of 6.35kg of cocaine valued at N2.35bn, the interception of other contraband worth over N5.5bn and the foiling of 473 smuggling attempts. Those are the core facts presently available.
In the final analysis, the Customs cocaine haul is more than a dramatic arrest story. It reflects the continuing challenge of border control, narcotics trafficking, smuggling and revenue leakage. It also shows why agencies such as Customs and NDLEA must continue to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement.
The case will now depend on investigation and prosecution. Until then, the suspect remains an accused person. But the seizure itself sends a clear message: Nigeria’s border enforcement agencies are under pressure, and the criminal networks testing the system are becoming more daring.
https://punchng.com/customs-nab-71-year-old-with-n2-35bn-cocaine-haul
