Western Marine Customs On Red Alert : Seizes Cannabis sativa worth N2billion
By Silas Onuoha
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is on red alert, as it seized Cannabis Sativa, among other items worth over N2.2billion to save the lives of innocent Nigerians from harmful items.
Briefing journalists in Lagos yesterday , the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abubakar Umar said the Cannabis Sativa weighed 16,663kg and worth N2, 061,000,000 billion.
According to him, the seized Cannabis was
imported from Ghana along the Lagos Waterways.
“The Cannabis Sativa was intercepted while on their way into the country from Ghana along our waterways.
Importation like this can not help our country’s development.
“We all know the harms that Cannabis Sativa poses to our youths. It is illegal to ship such contraband into Nigeria and we will continue to thwart the efforts of unscrupulous importers, who derive joy in bringing in such substance into the country,” the CAC said.
He went on; “My men also seized 1,575 bags of foreign parboiled rice equivalent to more than 2 trailer loads of rice worth N39,375,000,
28,735 litres of PMS contained in 1,077 kegs of 25liter size equivalent to about one load of PMS worth N4,921,700,
Seven wooden boats with 4 Engines as means of Conveyance worth Nl3,750,000,
and 2 sacks of suspected gunpowder, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2,233,808,950.”
He added ; ” We are warning criminals who engage in smuggling activities on the waterways,”
Compt. Umar maintained that the Command would further intensify its anti-smmugling efforts as the yuletide season approaches.
His words: “We are expecting seven
new boats. We already
have nine boats and 250 trained officers on ground. We expect 50 more officers to join us soon.
We thank the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Hameed Ali, his management team for supporting the Command with necessary work tools, and a new conference room.
In the same vein, the Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Isaac Uzah, condemned crimes being perpetuated on the waterways. He called for greater enlightenment to sensitize the public against the implications of such illegality.
