The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri and the Eastern Marine Command (EMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) record massive seizures of illicit substances which they hand over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone C, Owerri, has intercepted 151 wraps of Cannabis Sativas (Indian Hemp) weighing 77,500 grams and 15 wraps of Canadian Loud weighing 8,600 grams concealed by the purveyors in an attempt to smuggle them into the Nigerian market.
The seized prohibited items have been handed over to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Speaking at the brief handing over ceremony in Owerri, Imo state, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Bishir Balogun, revealed that the seizure was made possible through the vigilance, intelligence and dedication of the officers and men of the Unit whom he said intercepted the illicit substance during routine patrol operations within the Zone.
Balogun, who had made the highest seizure in the history of the unit, stated that the contraband was carefully concealed and transported in a manner intended to evade detection, while disclosing that the roving officers of the unit acted on credible intelligence and were able to intercept and secure the seized items during their routine patrol.
He declared that the handing over of the contraband to the NDLEA operatives demonstrated the shared commitment, as law enforcement agencies, to safeguarding the security, health and economic well-being of the nation. “The handing over of these 151 wraps of Cannabis Sativa (77,500g) and 15 wraps of Canadian Loud (8,600g) to the NDLEA today reflects the spirit of inter-agency cooperation that the Federal Government continues to encourage.
“The NDLEA remains the competent authority in handling drug related matters, and we are proud to work in synergy with them to ensure that justice is served and that such harmful substances are removed from circulation,” he said.
While commending the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for the wonderful support being extended to the unit, he pledged to continue to uplift the image of the Service.
He also applauded the men and officers of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone C, for their diligence and professionalism. Your tireless efforts continue to make this Command a formidable force in the fight against smuggling and other criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Marine Command (EMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service undertook a series of strategic engagements, on-the-spot inspections in the Oron and Calabar maritime corridors, strengthened its enforcement operations and collaboration efforts with sister agencies.
This was contained in a statement made available to Tentacle by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Emmanuel Tangwa, a Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to the statement, Comptroller AB JAJA showcased several seizures made by operatives of the Command across different locations and times within the area of responsibility at the Oron Outstation in Akwa Ibom State.
Comptroller Jaja gave the details of the intercepted items to include 3,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), several cartons of assorted pharmaceuticals of various brands with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.049 million.
Others are two large sacks of wildlife (endangered species) body parts, including chimpanzee heads, parrots and helmeted hornbill in violation of CITES regulations. The items have been deposited in the Government Warehouse in Calabar.
Comptroller JAJA commended the vigilance of his officers and the intelligence-sharing support of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, stressing that such collaborations have continued to yield positive enforcement results while displaying the seized items.
However, Jaja warned maritime stakeholders to desist from all forms of illegal importation or exportation, noting that officers of the Command remained fully alert to counter all acts of smuggling and economic sabotage.
Handing over Seized Pharmaceutical product to NAFDAC, Jaja that the seized pharmaceutical products including expired ones and all illegally imported items were handed over to the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of (NAFDAC), Mr. John Naeche who noted that the action aligned with the collaborative efforts of the NCS, particularly as it concerned synergy with relevant agencies.
Naeche, who applauded the CAC, Eastern Marine Command for the seizures and for the handover in accordance with regulatory procedures, assured that NAFDAC would notify the NCS of the scheduled date and location for the destruction of the seized items.
