The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi on Thursday handed over seized illicit drugs including cocaine and colorado valued at N4.279 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Adeniyi, said the drugs were seized during joint examination by Customs, NDLEA and other security agencies at the Tin Can Island port.
He commended the collaboration between both agencies, particularly the sharing of intelligence, which he said led to the seizure.
Giving details of the seized items handed over to NDLEA, Adeniyi said they included, 65 packets of Colorado, a strain of cannabis weighing 32.5kg seized from 1X40FT Container No. UACU 534833/6 imported from Canada; 17 parcels of cocaine weighing 16.690kg; 151 parcels of Colorado weighing 107kg; some precursor chemicals among others seized from 1x40ft Container No. MSCU 458177/0 imported from Durban South Africa; 40 packets of cocaine weighing 39.7kg; 1026 packets of Colorado weighing 688.2kg seized from 40ft container No. THRU 796807/1 imported from Durban South Africa and 226 packets of Colorado weighing 128kg seized from 40ft container No. MEDU 785276/3 imported from Durban, South Africa.
“The summary of the seized substances is 56.39kg of Cocaine valued at N 2,368,380,000, 955kg of Colorado Indica valued at 1,911,400,000, all with street value of N4. 279billion.”
Adeniyi added that the NCS also intercepted arms and ammunition at the Tin Can Island port.
He gave the summary of the weapons seized to include 5 pistols and 445 rounds of live ammunition and several empty pistol magazines.
According to the Customs boss, the individuals linked to these seizures have not been disclosed as investigations into the criminal network are ongoing.
“The NCS is committed to leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators involved in these illicit activities face the full consequences of the law. Our relentless pursuit of justice underscores the determination to dismantle the networks enabling these criminal acts, reinforcing our dedication to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the security and well-being of the Nigerian people,” he said.
While receiving the illicit drugs, the Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended NDLEA and Customs officials for the seizures.
He said the collaboration between both agencies was a strong warning to drug cartels that they will continue to lose their investments in the criminal trade.
“That we are here today doing this is a testament to the cooperation we received from the Nigeria Customs Service. This level of cooperation between NDLEA and Customs, as well as other security agencies and port stakeholders, is a strong signal to drug cartels that our ports and indeed Nigeria, will not be a haven for their criminal business.
“The synergy between Customs and NDLEA would further ensure the closing of other loopholes that criminal elements may have capitalised on in the past years to smuggle illicit items into our country,” the NDLEA boss who was represented at the ceremony by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said.
