The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, has intercepted illicit drugs and pharmaceutical products with a combined street value of N3.951 billion in its sustained crackdown on smuggling and trans-border criminal activities.
The Unit also arrested three suspects in connection with the seizures and handed over the seized narcotic substances and the suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this yesterday at the formal handover of the seized cannabis sativa, pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances to relevant government agencies at the Unit’s headquarters, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos.
Aliyu said the seizures were made during sustained anti-smuggling operations along border corridors, highways and other strategic locations within the Unit’s area of responsibility.
He said the enforcement action was targeted at disrupting drug trafficking syndicates operating within the zone.
According to him, the seizures included 5,669 parcels and 19 sacks of synthetic strain of cannabis sativa weighing 3,116.9 kilogrammes; 3½ packs of ground cannabis (Skunk) weighing 3.45kg; two packs of granular cannabis (Skunk) weighing 1kg; and 11 small packs of granular cannabis (Skunk) weighing 0.35kg.
Other seized narcotics included 24 packets of Backwoods Russian Cream Cigars weighing 0.5 gramme, 49 wraps of cannabis (Skunk) weighing 26.1kg and one wrap of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.
Aliyu said the narcotic substances were formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and other necessary action in line with its statutory mandate.
He added that the pharmaceutical products intercepted included 1,754 packs and 6,948 sachets of 225mg and 100mg Tramadol tablets, 1,200 Hypnox tablets of 1mg and 97 bottles of Codeine syrup.
Aliyu said the illicit movement of cannabis sativa and other controlled substances posed serious threats to public health, national security and the future of Nigerian youths.
He stated, “The illicit movement of Cannabis Sativa and other controlled substances poses a serious threat to public health, national security and the future of our young people. Such substances fuel addiction, criminality, violence and other social problems.”
The Customs comptroller said the service would continue to strengthen the integrity of the supply chain and support the NDLEA in disrupting the movement of narcotic drugs and other illicit goods across Nigeria’s borders.
According to him, “The Nigeria Customs Service, through strengthening the integrity of the supply chain would continue to support the efforts of the NDLEA by disrupting the movement of narcotic drugs and illicit goods across Nigeria’s borders.”
He added that the service remained committed to providing relevant information and supporting further investigations whenever necessary.
Aliyu explained that the formal transfer of the seized narcotics to the NDLEA would enable the agency to conduct appropriate forensic, investigative and prosecutorial processes in accordance with the law.
He said it would also ensure that the seized narcotics were handled, stored and disposed of in a secure and professionally regulated manner.
Meanwhile, the FOU also intercepted four cylinders of a chemical weighing 34.5kg each, which were confirmed to be high-grade mercury used in small-scale illegal gold mining.
Aliyu said the chemical had dual purposes but posed significant environmental hazards and was controlled under the Minamata Convention.
He said the mercury would be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the appropriate environmental regulatory agency, for further action.
According to him, “In a similar vein, our vigilant officers also intercepted and seized (4) cylinders of a chemical weighing 34.5kg each confirmed to be high grade MERCURY that is used in small scale for illegal mining of GOLD.”
He added, “This item has dual purposes, it has significant environmental hazards and it is controlled by MINAMATA CONVENTION. The chemicals will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) which is the appropriate environmental regulatory competence for further agency actions.”
Aliyu put the street value of the seized narcotics at N3.951 billion, while reiterating the commitment of the Customs Service to intensifying its anti-smuggling operations.
He said the seizure demonstrated the importance of collaboration among security and regulatory agencies in tackling increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks.
According to him, “This event underscores the fact that no single agency can effectively confront the complex nature of contemporary smuggling and trans-border criminality alone.”
He stressed the need for continued information sharing, joint operations, coordinated intelligence, capacity building and prompt transfer of seized items to agencies with the statutory responsibility to handle them.
The comptroller commended the leadership and personnel of the NDLEA and NESREA for their cooperation and professionalism, as well as other sister security and regulatory agencies for their contributions to the fight against smuggling.
He said the Federal Operations Unit would not relent in its responsibilities, noting that it would continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies, enhanced surveillance, effective patrols and robust enforcement operations to disrupt the activities of smugglers and criminal networks.
Aliyu further said, “Our men have continued to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and respect for the law in the discharge of their duties. We shall continue to facilitate legitimate trade while firmly preventing the movement of prohibited, harmful and improperly regulated goods.”
He added that the fight against narcotics trafficking, environmental crimes and other forms of smuggling remained a collective responsibility.
The Customs comptroller assured that the service would remain committed to protecting Nigeria’s borders, safeguarding citizens and enforcing laws governing the movement of goods into and out of the country.
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