The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Port Command, has intensified its crackdown on illicit drug trafficking with the interception of 4,173.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica valued at about ₦16.6 billion.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Frank Onyeka, said the seizure was made through a joint operation involving operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to him, the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of drug trafficking syndicates attempting to smuggle narcotics through the Lagos port corridor.
He disclosed that the 40-foot container, which originated from Canada, concealed 8,457 parcels of Cannabis Indica allegedly intended for distribution across the country.
“This is not just another seizure. This represents a deliberate attempt by criminal elements to jeopardise national security, endanger lives and profit from the destruction of our hardworking young men and women in the country. Thankfully, due to the vigilance and professionalism of our officers and partner agencies, that consignment will not get to the streets,” Onyeka stated.
The Customs boss assured Nigerians that the command would continue to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration to frustrate further smuggling attempts through the nation’s seaports.
He added that investigations were ongoing to identify and prosecute all individuals linked to the illicit shipment.
“The Command will not spare anyone found compromising national security for personal gain. No matter how long it takes, such individuals will be tracked down and dealt with according to the law,” he added.
The seized consignment was subsequently handed over to the Director of Seaport Operations at the NDLEA, Ibinabo Abia, who reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eliminating narcotics trafficking and protecting Nigerian youths from the dangers of illicit drugs.
The latest interception comes barely two weeks after the Tincan Island Port Command recorded another major seizure of Cannabis Indica through intelligence-driven collaboration between the NCS and the NDLEA, highlighting the growing synergy between both agencies in combating drug trafficking through the nation’s seaports.
