The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, has intercepted a significant consignment of cannabis sativa weighing 1,958kg, with a duty-paid value of N398 million.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Lomba Benjamin, confirmed the seizure in a statement released on Friday.
Providing details on the operation, Customs Area Controller Paul Bamisaiye explained that officers intercepted the illicit goods at Ilase Sea Beach, approximately 200 nautical miles from Lagos Anchorage.
According to Bamisaiye, the smugglers attempted to evade capture by fleeing into the sea, abandoning their boat in the process.
“They abandoned the boat and jumped into the sea,” he stated.
Upon securing the vessel and transporting it to the command’s office, customs officials discovered “3,793 loaves of cannabis sativa divided into 53 sacks and weighed 1,958kg. The duty paid value of the seizure is N398m,” he revealed.
Bamisaiye described the seizure, which took place at around 11 pm on Thursday, as the most significant single-operation confiscation of cannabis under his leadership. He attributed the success to the dedication and vigilance of his officers.
This latest interception follows a similar operation two months ago, during which customs officers seized 15 sacks containing 1,021 loaves of cannabis sativa, collectively weighing 538kg and valued at N107 million.
The Customs Area Controller expressed gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team for their continuous support in equipping the command with necessary resources to combat smuggling.
In adherence to established procedures, Bamisaiye confirmed that the seized drugs will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to collaborating with other security agencies to strengthen border security.
