By: peace udugba- The daily torch media
Customs Intercepts Cannabis Worth ₦157.8m at Western Marine Command
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, has recorded another major breakthrough with the interception of 20 sacks of Cannabis Indica, totaling 1,205 loaves, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦157.83 million.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, the Area Controller of Customs, Western Marine Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, said the seizure was made during a recent anti-smuggling operation carried out by officers of the Command in line with ongoing efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime borders and protect the economy.
Ntadi disclosed that the illicit drugs were carefully concealed and suspected to have been smuggled into the country through the waterways, noting that the interception highlights the Command’s commitment to curbing smuggling and other transnational crimes within its area of responsibility.
Beyond enforcement, the Controller said the Command remains focused on trade facilitation. He revealed that within the period under review, the Western Marine Container Escort Team successfully escorted 21,414 containers from the nation’s ports to various bonded terminals, ensuring compliance with customs regulations and the seamless movement of cargo.
“These achievements reaffirm our statutory responsibilities of border security, revenue protection, and trade facilitation,” Ntadi said, adding that the Command will remain resolute in its fight against smuggling and criminal activities that threaten national security and economic stability.
The Controller attributed the successes to the strategic leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, MFR, psc+, improved intelligence gathering, and strong inter-agency collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, NDLEA, Marine Police, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The Western Marine Command assured the public of its continued commitment to enforcing the law and combating all forms of illegal activities across the nation’s waterways.
