By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
No fewer than 4,070 parcels of Cannabis Sativa popularly known as marijuana were seized by the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) in the month of January 2024, New Nigerian Newspaper has learnt.
The seizure of the exhibit, concealed in 51 sacks is part of continued efforts by the Command to purge the Western Waterways of the offensive activities of smuggling.
The Command’s Public Relations officer, SC Magaji Mailafiya made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.
According to him, On Friday, January 19, 2024, at exactly 1206hrs, a Joint Patrol Team of the Command received credible Intelligence of the movement of a wooden Boat around the Moba Seashore axis of the Command suspected of transporting offending goods.
After a hot pursuit of the identified Boat by officers, the smugglers dived into the Creek, abandoning the Boat fully loaded with the goods.
“The wooden Boat powered by two 40 horsepower engines was towed back to the Command HQ at Ibafon Apapa.
“After careful examination, it was found to contain 4,070 parcels of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1785kg”, the statement partly read.
On his part, the Customs Area Controller, Odaudu Salefu, has promised to give officers of the Command the needed impetus and motivation to perform their anti-smuggling responsibilities in 2024.
Recall that in 2023, Western Marine Command made five significant seizures of Cannabis Sativa, totaling 14,920 parcels of the dangerous drugs.
The five seizures were part of the 48 incidents of seizures recorded by the Command in 2023 resulting in a total Duty Paid Value of N1, 470,397,255.00.
The statement added that the Western Marine Command is poised more than ever to improve its performance in 2024.
Related
