The Area Controller of Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Compt. OA Salefu has handed over 103 sacks containing 8,240 loaves of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) and 23,000 Capsules of 100mg of Tramadol to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further agency action.
Briefing the press on Thursday, the controller explained how the Cannabis Sativa was seized.
According to him, on Thursday 3rd August 2023, at about 0400hrs the command upon a follow-up on one of its numerous lead, received credible intelligence, that a crime was about to be committed with the information that an attempt was being made to smuggle a large shipment of Cannabis Sativa into the Country through the western waterways from a neighbouring Country.
Salefu stated that the command immediately assembled a joint patrol team of Marine patrol officers and set out towards the Ibeju Lekki Deep Sea coastal water where they intercepted and arrested one wooden Boat with two Yamaha outboard Engines (40hp each) loaded with 103 sacks of substances immediately suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana).
He said that the smugglers upon sighting the patrol team dived into the water and abandoned their boat with all the items in it which was immediately brought to Western Marine Command headquarters Ibafon Apapa and found to contain 8,240 parcels (loaves) of Cannabis Sativa having a total weight of 3,811 kg.
According to him, duty paid value of the cannabis sativa stands at N692,160,000 (Six Hundred and Ninety Two Million, One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira Only) with a total weight of 3,811 kilograms while the duty paid value of the means of conveyance and two Yamaha outboard engines of 40 horse power each stands at N7,350,000 (Seven Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only). These give a combined duty paid value of N699,510,000 (Six Hundred And Ninety Nine Million, Five Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira Only) for the entire seizure.
“The inordinate quest by citizens to get rich by any means necessary fuels the menace of smuggling, citizens must understand that smuggling is injurious to our economy and smuggling of hard drugs has even more devastating effect on our health and the economy.
“Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service while facilitating Trade continues to stand as the frontier along our waterways to guard the Nation under very strenuous and challenging circumstances against illicit and illegal trade that brings injuries to our economy and health,” the controller stated.
While appreciating the media and the general public for their patriotic and nationalistic reportage, he called for synergy of everyone to rid the nation of unhealthy and dangerous trade practices that have the potential to bring down Nigerians.