By Jafar Abdulfatah
The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command says it intercepted 17 sacks of cannabis sativa valued at N96 million.
The Controller, Western Marine Command of NCS, Mr Paul Bamisaiye, announced the inception while handing over the seized hemp to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Tuesday in Lagos.
TheNewsZenith reports that Bamisaiye handed the drug to the Assistant Commander Narcotics of NDLEA, Mr Bashir Magaji.
He said that the seized bags contained 1, 257 loaves of hemp.
The Controller narrated that the Bar Beach Station command’s patrol team received credible intelligence on the movement of a boat at about 11.00 p.m. on May 15.
According to him, the patrol team intercepted the boat on the high sea along the beach location. It was carrying items suspected to be offending items.
“Upon receiving the information, operatives intercepted one boat, carrying sacks of the suspected items.
“Also, on Sunday, May 19, a joint team from the command, along Panko Creek, Badagry Waterways, intercepted another wooden boat.
“The boat carrying suspected contraband items.
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“Upon sighting Customs patrol boats, the suspects abandoned their boat and dived into the water.
“A careful examination of the items revealed 505 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice.
“The combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized rice was N59.1 million.
“The actions of these smugglers are a direct contravention of NCS Act 2023, which Western Marine Command (WMC) is responsible to enforce,” Bamisile said.
He appealed to the general and trading public not to engage in the illicit drug business.
He also urged the men of the command to redouble their efforts and arrest suspects along with their contraband to deter other smugglers.
Receiving the intercepted hemp from customs, the Assistant Commander Narcotics of NDLEA, Magaji commended the NCS for intensifying efforts to suppress smuggling.
He assured that the investigation would continue from where customs stopped.
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