The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, reported intercepting 53 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 1,958 kg with a duty-paid value of N398 million in Lagos.
Lomba Benjamin, the command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.
Speaking on the seizures, Paul Bamisaiye, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, stated that the contraband was discovered near Ilase Sea Beach, around 200 nautical miles from Lagos Anchorage.
He stated that the smugglers attempted to flee but were overpowered by the officers, so “they abandoned the boat and jumped into the sea.”
“The boat was quickly secured and brought to the office, where it was found to contain 3,793 loaves of cannabis sativa divided into 53 sacks and weighed 1,958 kg. The duty-paid value of the seizure is N398m,” he said.
He emphaised that the contrabands, which were intercepted on Thursday at about 11pm, were a result of the intensified efforts by the ever-focused and eagle-eyed officers of the command.
He stated that the interception was the highest single operational seizure of cannabis sativa under his administration.
Bamisaiye noted that two months earlier, the command made a seizure of 15 sacks containing 1,021 loves of cannabis sativa weighing 538 kg worth N107 m.
He praised the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team for their support in the fight against smuggling operations by giving essential resources and equipment to the command.
However, Bamisaiye stated that the hard drugs will be turned over to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency in accordance with established processes.
He stated that the command will continue to collaborate with other sister agencies to ensure the nation’s borders are adequately protected.
