The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday said its operatives intercepted 11 parcels of cocaine weighing 11.913kg with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.9billion.
In a statement by the spokesman of the command, Hussaini Abdulahi, the 11 parcels of cocaine were discovered in a Ford Transit bus conveying religious books
The statement added that 31,950 litres of petroleum products packaged in sacks and worth over N10million were also seized along the Seme Badagry expressway.
The interceptions, he said, were made possible after the command initiated an offensive patrol against the smuggling of petroleum products along the creeks within the Seme and Badagry axis.
“This renewed effort led to the interception of large quantities of petroleum products packaged in sacks on Wednesday, 26 January 2022.
“The aforementioned items were successfully evacuated to the command premises where an examination was conducted. 1,065 jerrycans of petroleum products 30 litres each, equivalent to 31,950 litres were discovered with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N10,041,198.
“Accordingly, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bello Mohammed Jibo stressed that the offensive crackdown on the activities of the petroleum products smugglers is with a mission of getting them arrested wherever they are. He reassured that the Command will continue to make life uncomfortable for the unpatriotic Nigerians trading illegal businesses in the area.
“In the same vein, the officers and men of the command while conducting stop and search along Seme- Badagry Expressway intercepted 11 parcels of substance suspected to be cocaine in a Ford Transit bus conveying religious books. Also, one suspect has been arrested in connection with the seizure.
“While showcasing the seizure, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bello Mohammed Jibo explained that the substance was intercepted along Seme- Badagry Expressway at about 09:00 hrs on Sunday 23 January 2022.
“Consequently, the substance was subjected to test and verification by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and was found to be cocaine weighing 11.913kg. The street value of the items was estimated to be N3,916,624,147.00 only.
“While appreciating the cooperation of sister agencies and relevant stakeholders at Seme Border, the CAC reiterated the commitment of his officers and men in enforcing government fiscal policies for the overall national growth and development,” the statement reads.
