By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt Area I Command, has handed over 30 wraps of Canadian Loud intercepted from a female passenger travelling from South Africa to Nigeria to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as part of efforts to check the movement of illicit drugs into the country.
The handover followed the interception of the substance on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, upon the passenger’s arrival in Nigeria. The development was contained in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday, 8 October 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Barilule Aanee, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller.
Speaking during the handover, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller of Customs, Salamatu Atuluku, described the fight against illicit drugs as necessary to protect public health and safety, particularly among young people, noting that the consequences of substance abuse extended beyond individual users to families and communities.
“The fight against illicit drugs is essential to protecting public health and safety. Substances such as Canadian Loud pose serious risks, particularly to our young people, because of their effects on mental health, judgement and productivity. We must remain committed to preventing these substances from reaching our communities.” Comptroller Atuluku said.
Comptroller Atuluku commended the officers involved in the interception and acknowledged the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the NCS Management Team in strengthening the Service’s anti-smuggling operations. He assured that the Command would sustain its efforts to intercept illicit substances and bring those involved in their trafficking to justice.
In his remarks, the Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, NDLEA, Nathaniel Negedu, commended the Customs Service for the interception and subsequent handover, stressing the need for both agencies to maintain their cooperation in tackling drug trafficking.
“The successful interception and handover demonstrate the importance of cooperation between the NCS and the NDLEA. We must continue to work together and remain committed to tackling drug trafficking because of the serious threat it poses to society.” Negedu said.
