The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command on Tuesday, handed over 17 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, containing 1, 257 parcels worth N96m, intercepted along Bar Beach in Lagos State, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
During the handover at the command in Apapa, Lagos, Customs Area Controller Paul Bamisaiye stated that officers, aiming to clear the Western waterways of smuggling activities, intercepted the hard drugs weighing 609 kg.
Bamisaiye explained that a patrol team at the Bar Beach station received credible intelligence about a boat on the high sea carrying suspected contraband items.
He added that upon receiving this information, the team proceeded to the described location and intercepted a fiber boat fitted with a 200-horsepower Yamaha engine, carrying the suspected items.
“In a related development on May 19, 2024, officers and men of the command, while on routine patrol along Panko Creek, Badagry waterways, intercepted a wooden boat fitted with a 25HP Yamaha engine carrying suspected contraband items,” he said.
The WMC boss stated that the smugglers, upon sighting the patrol boats, abandoned their boat and dived into the water.
“A careful examination of the items revealed 505 bags of foreign parboiled rice and the means of conveyance, with a combined duty paid value of N59.2m,” he added.
He stated that the actions of these smugglers directly violate sections 245 and 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He urged the general public and traders to avoid involvement in illicit drugs and smuggling, which constitute economic sabotage. He emphasized that drugs remain a societal menace and contribute to other criminal activities such as banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
Upon receiving the substances, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Marine Command, Maggaji Bashiru, praised the customs command for intercepting the hard drugs, highlighting the enhanced synergy among sister agencies.
He noted that while security agencies are devising strategic approaches to enforce arrests, smugglers are also re-strategizing.
Bashiru stated that the items would be taken to the NDLEA command for a thorough investigation.