Customs hands over parcels of cannabis sativa worth N692 million to NDLEA
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 8,240 loaves of cannabis sativa (marijuana) and 23,000 capsules of 100mg of tramadol to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The command’s area comptroller, Odaudu Salefu, said this in a news conference in Lagos on Thursday.
According to Mr Salefu, the cannabis sativa contained 103 sacks intercepted along the country’s coastal waters.
He said the command received credible intelligence at about 4:00 p.m. on August 3 about an attempt to smuggle a shipment of cannabis sativa into Nigeria via the western waterways from a neighbouring country.
Mr Salefu said a marine patrol team was mobilised and set out towards the Ibeju Lekki Deep Sea coastal water.
“They intercepted and arrested one wooden boat with two Yamaha outboard Engines (40hp each) loaded with 103 sacks of substances immediately suspected to be cannabis sativa (marijuana).
“The smugglers, upon sighting our patrol team, dived into the water and abandoned their boat with all the items in it, which was immediately brought to Western Marine Command Headquarters, Ibafon, Apapa.
“The boat was found to contain 8,240 parcels (loaves) of cannabis sativa with a total weight of 3,811 kg,” he said.
The customs boss noted that the duty-paid value of the cannabis stands at N692.16 million, while the duty-paid value of conveyance and two Yamaha outboard engines of 40 horsepower each stands at N7.35 million.
“Citizens must understand that smuggling is injurious to our economy and smuggling of hard drugs has even more devastating effect on our health and the economy.
“Western marine command of NCS, while facilitating trade, continues to stand as the frontier along our waterways to guard the nation under very strenuous and challenging circumstances against illegal trade that brings injuries to our economy and health,” he said.
He appreciated the comptroller general of customs and his management team’s motivation and impetus to go after smugglers and perform their statutory responsibilities.
(NAN)
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