By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Port Area Command, has intercepted three containers filled with Cannabis Indica valued at N682,050,000.
This was disclosed during a formal handover to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday, Comptroller Dera Nnadi Customs Area Controller (CAC), stated that the seizure of 684 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 341.025kg were made possible through actionable intelligence received by the Command, which led to the interception of the containers.
He said, “The Command having received actionable intelligence on the suspected importation of illicit dangerous drugs from one of the source countries, intercepted the three containers which we are showcasing today. The drugs extracted from the containers are being handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) TCIP, in furtherance of existing interagency collaboration and the MOU signed between the NDLEA and NCS. He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to deploying resources and strategies to combat illegal importation of illicit substances.
“The command and indeed the service will deploy all necessary resources at our disposal and in collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of illicit and dangerous substances. We are more than committed to deliver on this mandate”, the CAC affirmed.
While receiving the illicit items, Deputy Commander, NDLEA Tincan Island Port Command, Adanu Eno praised the collaboration between the two agencies. “What you are seeing this afternoon is the determination and collective efforts of Customs and NDLEA in bringing this to pass.”
“With this seizure and others in the past, Customs has proved to us that they are always at alert to thwart the efforts of criminals who want to bring illicit drugs into the country”, he concluded.”