The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded multiple seizures that have brought marine smugglers on western waters to their knees, including hard drugs and other smuggled items valued at N924m
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Friday, November 9, 2023 said it intercepted contrabands, hard drugs worth N924million within one month.
The contrabands seized by the command include Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), totaling 663.5kg; Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), foreign parboiled rice, Tramadol among others.
In a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer CPRO), Mailafiya Magaji, the contrabands were intercepted along the Moba Waterways and Sanki Beach Axis between August 31, 2023 and October 4, 2023.
According to the command, “In accordance with its primary mandate outlined in Section 4 of the NCS Act 2023, the WMC executed rigorous border enforcement and regulatory activities, resulting in the arrest and seizures of significant illegal goods valued at over N924 million from August to October 2023.
“During the operations, officers and men of the WMC confiscated 17 sacks containing 1,199 loaves of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), totaling 663.5kg in September and October 2023. These arrests were conducted along the Moba waterways and Sanki Beach Axis on the 31st of August 2023 and 4th of October 2023, respectively.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Odaudu Salefu, also disclosed that the determined officers attached to the command also apprehended 66,000 capsules of 225mg Tramadol and 1,257 sacks of foreign parboiled rice, collectively exceeding a duty paid value of N50million.”
According to Comptroller Salefu, the command intercepted petroleum products on the verge of being smuggled out of the country.
The statement further said, “In a related incident, the command seized 3,750 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during two separate arrests on the 27th of October 2023. It is noteworthy that in August 2023, the WMC seized 103 sacks containing 8,240 loaves of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), promptly handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on the 7th of September, 2023.
“Comptroller Salefu emphasizes once again the imperative for the general public to respect and adhere to government fiscal policies, prohibitions, and restrictions. These measures are in place to safeguard national security, foster economic growth, and contribute to the overall progress of Nigeria,” the statement read.
