The Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it have recovered contraband goods in the state worth N164.8 million.
At a press conference on the accomplishments of the command held on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, the Area Controller of NCS in the state, stated this.
He said,”We directed our officers to intensify surveillance in all the nooks and crannies of the state, having had credible intelligence on the impending activities of smugglers.
“The following items were, therefore, seized during the period; 371 parcels of cannabis sativa, otherwise called Indian hemp, intercepted at Kawara water side, in Suru Local Government Area.
“We also seized 98 packs of diazepam,10 sacks of snuff, 1,080 pieces of donkey skin, 37 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 300 litres of PMS, 16 bales of second hand clothing and used Toyota Corolla as means of conveyance, among others.”
The area comptroller estimated that the duty-paid worth of the products confiscated was N164.8 million.
On illegal substances, he said that the command had given the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) cannabis sativa and hard drugs valued N94.8 million.
“The seizure of such drugs is in line with the vow we made and our determination to rid the state of drug inflow and all items capable of causing harm to Nigerians,” he said.
The NDLEA Commander who received the drugs, Alhaji Sulaiman Usman, complimented the NCS for its efforts to reduce the threat of illegal drug imports and anti-smuggling actions in the state.
“This is in line with the untiring effort and drive of our Chief Executive Officer/Chairman of NDLEA, Buba Marwa, in combatting the menace of drug abuse and smuggling in the country,” he said.
He also condoled the command over the killing of two of its personnel on Aug. 24, by suspected bandits.
Also, Alhaji Abdul-Razak Bashir, the state Commandant of Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, who received the seized donkey skin, lauded the customs for their sustained fight against smuggling of endangered species.
