Customs intercept N692m drugs, other items along Ibeju-Lekki waterways

The authorities of Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has confirmed that it had intercepted 103 sacks containing 8,240 loaves of cannabis sativa and 23, 000 capsules of Tramadol 100 mg each along Ibeju-Lekki waterways.

According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mailafiya Magaji, the Customs Area Controller, Odaudu Salefu, had handed over the seized drugs to officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, at the command in Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos.

WMC of the NCS is the foremost marine formation of the service saddled with the duties of guarding the waterways.

The seized drugs, according to the Customs boss, had a duty-paid value of N692m while one wooden boat with two Yamaha Outboard Engines; 40 horsepower each, were also seized.

Salefu, according to the statement, said that the seizures were made possible following credible intelligence that a crime was about to be committed.

His words : “On Thursday, August 3, 2023, at about 0400hrs, the command, upon a follow-up on one of its numerous leads, received credible intelligence that a crime was about to be committed.

“Information reached the command that an attempt will be made to smuggle a large shipment of cannabis sativa into the country through our western waterways from a neighbouring country.

“The command immediately assembled a joint patrol team of marine patrol officers and set out towards the Ibeju Lekki Deep Sea Coastal Water where they intercepted and arrested one wooden boat with two Yamaha Outboard Engines (40hp each) loaded with 103 sacks of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa (marijuana).”

Salefu explained that the smugglers on sighting the patrol team abandoned the contrabands and jumped into the water.

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He added that the seized 8,240 parcels of cannabis sativa weighed 3,811 kg.

The WMC boss explained that the inordinate quest by citizens to get rich by any means fuels the menace of smuggling.