Customs WMC hands over N96m worth of cannabis to NDLEA, seizes 505 bags of smuggled rice

The Western Marine Command (WMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service has handed over seized 17 sacks containing 1,257 loaves of cannabis sativa, valued at N96million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos.

The command said it also seized 505 bags of foreign parboiled rice worth N59 million.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Command in Ibafon, Apapa on Tuesday, Controller of the Command, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye said the cannabis sativa weighing 609kg was seized following credible intelligence on movement of a boat on the high sea along the Bar Beach.

He said, “At about 2300hrs on Wednesday 15 May 2024, a patrol team of officers and Men of WMC at the Bar beach station of the Command received credible intelligence on movement of a boat on the high sea along the beach location carrying items suspected to be offending items. Upon receiving the information the team moved towards the described location and intercepted one fiber boat fitted with 200HP Yamaha engine carrying sacks of the suspected items.”

He said the items were handed over to NDLEA in line with the Comptroller General’s policy thrust on interagency synergy and collaboration.

“In the spirit of interagency synergy and collaboration in line with the Comptroller General’s (CGC) policy thrust, the Western Marine Command (WMC) under my leadership has received approval to handover 17 sacks containing 1,257 loaves of cannabis sativa which includes 72 loaves that were previously seized by the Command with a combined weight of 609kg worth over 96million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), ” he said.

On the rice seizure, Bamisaiye said the rice including means of conveyance was intercepted on May 19, 2024, by operatives of the command while on routine patrol along Panko Creek, Badagry Waterways.

He said the smugglers, upon sighting the patrol team abandoned their boats and dived into the water.

“On Sunday 19 May 2024 a joint team of officers and men of the Command while on routine patrol along Panko Creek, Badagry Waterways, intercepted one wooden boat fitted with a 25HP Yamaha engine carrying suspected contraband items and upon sighting our patrol boats abandoned their oat and dived into the water.

“A careful examination of the items being conveyed revealed 505 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice having a combined DPV of Fifty Nine Million, One Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira (N59, 185,000.00) of both items and Means of Conveyance. The actions of these smugglers is a direct contravention of sections 245 and 254 of NCS Act 2023 which WMC is responsible for enforcing, “he said.

Comptroller Bamisaiye expressed concern that no suspects were arrested during the seizure of cannabis and rice.

He, however, vowed to put an end to the trend of seizures without arrests, emphasizing that his officers must work harder to apprehend the perpetrators.

He said, “The issue of arrest without suspects must come to an end but I have told my officers that they must not kill.”

He said the Command is engaging with community leaders in the riverine and border areas to educate them on the negative impacts of smuggling and to solicit their cooperation in curbing the illegal activity.

While acknowledging that completely stopping smuggling may be impossible, Comptroller Bamisaiye said the Command’s continued efforts have successfully suppressed smuggling activities in the western waterways.

He appealed to the public to avoid engaging in illicit drug trade and smuggling, which leads to economic sabotage and fuels criminal acts like banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.

Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Marine Command, Mogaji Bashiru, who received the seized cannabis commended the command for it efforts in making the seizure.

He promised a thorough investigation into the seizure, ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.