The Nigeria Custom Service, Western Marine Command announced the seizure of over 17 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, containing 1,257 parcels along Bar Beach in Lagos on Tuesday.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Paul Bamisaiye, disclosed that the cannabis weight 609kg and worth ₦96 million.
The hard drug was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Bamisaiye said, upon receiving the information, the team moved towards the described location and intercepted a fibre boat fitted with a 200Horse Power Yamaha engine, carrying the suspected items.
He reported that the smugglers abandoned their goods immediately after sighting the Custom agent and dived into water.
It was revealed that the goods also contained 505 bags of foreign rice and the means of conveyance, with a combined duty paid value of N59.2m.
“In a related development on May 19, 2024, officers and men of the command, while on routine patrol along Panko Creek, Badagry waterways, intercepted a wooden boat fitted with a 25HP Yamaha engine carrying suspected contraband items,” he said.
“The actions of those smugglers directly contravene sections 245 and 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
“The general public and traders should not engage in illicit drugs and to shun smuggling, which leads to economic sabotage, as drugs continue to be a menace to society and a source of other criminal acts such as banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.”
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