The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Apapa Strategic Command, has disclosed that it secured fines exceeding $12m against two international vessels and a three-year conviction for one male drug convict without the option of a fine between June 2025 and June 2026.
This is even as the command said it intercepted 13 containers carrying various illicit substances between June 2025 and June 2026. The Commander of Narcotics, Apapa Strategic Command, Tukur Mohammed, disclosed this on Friday in Lagos while speaking during the grand finale of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
This year’s event, themed “The World Drug Problem: Persistent Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” was organised by the Apapa and Tincan Island Strategic Commands of the NDLEA.
“From June 2025 to June 2026, the Command intercepted and seized a total of 13 containers containing various illicit substances. Within the period under review, Apapa Strategic Command secured convictions/fines of over $12m on two international vessels, and a three-year conviction for one male drug convict without the option of a fine,” Mohammed added.
Giving details of the intervention, Mohammed highlighted that codeine-based syrup weighing approximately 162,471.445kg (about 162.47 tonnes) was among the illicit substances seized.
“Others include cocaine weighing 77kg recovered from three international vessels, cannabis indica weighing 8,107.5kg (about 8.1 tonnes), and cannabis sativa weighing about 1.5 tonnes, respectively,” he added.
Speaking at the event, he explained that the observance serves as a reminder of the collective responsibilities “we share in confronting the evolving challenges associated with drug trafficking and substance abuse. Beyond the immediate health concerns, illicit drug activities continue to undermine economic progress, contribute to insecurity, weaken communities, and threaten the future of our younger generation.”
