The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, said it intercepted cocaine, arms and ammunition worth N4.3bn.
The Customs Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, revealed this information while speaking to reporters during the handover of the confiscated goods at the command on Thursday.
Adeniyi stated that the contraband, originating from South Africa and Canada, was seized.
Additionally, the command intercepted 32.5 kilograms of Colorado Indica.
“Other seized contraband included 65 packets of Colarado Indica weighing 32.5kg, seized from a 40-foot container with number UACU 534833/6, imported from Canada; 17 packets of a substance weighing 16.690kg confirmed to be cocaine; 151 packets Colarado Indica weighing 107 kg; one piece Gen2 Air Soft Pistol with serial number, 471908, and an empty magazine.
“Forty nine rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition, 197 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, precursor chemicals for the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine, eight bags of tartaric acid weighing 25kg, 100kegs of unspecified substances seized from one 40 foot container with number, MSCU 458177/0 imported from Durban, South Africa.”
“Forty packets of substances weighing 39.7kg confirmed to be Cocaine, 1026 packets weighing 688.2kg confirmed to be Colarado Indica, 2 pistols without serial numbers, one pistol with serial number, AZYSRA6YSO12101181, 3 empty magazines, 275 rounds of 5.5mm M16 Tavor live ammunition, six rounds of 9mm blank ammunition seized from one 40 foot container with serial number, Thru 796807/1 imported from Durban, South Africa were also seized,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC said that the total seized substances were 56.39kg of cocaine valued at N2.3bn, 955kg of Colorado Indica valued at N1.9bn,” all with street value of N4.3bn.”
“The summary of the weapons seized were five pistols, 445 rounds of live ammunition and several empty pistol magazines.”
Adeniyi underscored the effectiveness of collaborative efforts with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in combining resources and intelligence to protect the nation’s borders.
The customs chief reiterated that the seizures exposed a pattern in which criminal networks collaborated in efforts to undermine the effectiveness of agencies tasked with preventing the entry of illicit substances.
“Our actions underscore the persistent challenges posed by sophisticated smuggling networks, emphasising the critical need for enhanced cooperation and advanced strategies to fortify the nation’s borders and preserve the safety and security of its citizens,” Adeniyi said.
He further mentioned that, given the threats and collaborative nature of criminal activities, the agency had prioritized establishing strategic partnerships with stakeholders over the past seven months.
Earlier, Buba Marwa, the Director General of the NDLEA, expressed his thoughts upon receiving the seized hard drugs. He stated that the handover of the illicit drugs by the NCS highlighted the dedication and diligence of security agencies responsible for safeguarding the country’s territory.
Represented by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Marwa added that this seizure served as proof that, similar to airports, seaports were also effectively secured.
“The command and other units had diligently tracked the movement of the containers up to the time of their landing in our port.
“In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the NDLEA never hesitated to share intelligence with the Tincan Island Command of the NCS and also requested that the command ensured the containers were pinned down for 100 per cent examination,” he said.