Western Marine Customs Nabs 3 Suspects Over Seizures Of Illicit Drugs

By Roland Ekama 

 

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday handed over a total of 1,658 loaves of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 788 kilogrammes intercepted by its operatives to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Marine Unit of customs also announced that three suspects were arrested in connection to the seized illicit drugs

Speaking at a handing over ceremony and courtesy visit of the new Marine Commander NDLEA, DNC Emmanuel Morrison at the commands headquarters, Ibafon Apapa Lagos, Customs Area Controller , Western Marine Command , Comptroller Kayode Bamisaiye disclosed that the three suspects will be handed over to NDLEA officials for onward prosecution.

These operations he said , took place at Ijegun Waterside, Bar Beach, and Ekare beach front in the month of November 2024, adding that the actions were in direct enforcement of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

 

 

Bamisaiye pointed out that “The seized Cannabis Sativa , illicit pharmaceutical products and arrested suspects will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food Drug Administration Control NAFDAC for further investigation and prosecution.

The customs boss reiterated that the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all the seized items is ₦182,196,000 and total weight of Cannabis Sativa is 788 Kilogrammes.

Bamisaiye noted that Customs and NDLEA have continued to a work in synergy for decades adding the seized items include cannabis and pharmaceutical products.

On the 21 November, 2024 , the customs top brass affirmed that the Command also seized 295 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice and some seven bags of 50kg refined granulated foreign sugar at “Point of No Return” in Badagry and Panko Ere waterfronts.

According to him ,” Again, the Command today will be handing over 386 bottles of 300ml codeine syrup, confiscated along the Yekeme/Joforo waterways, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which is in line with the recent understanding reached at the last CGC Conference in Abuja. Additionally, the Command intercepted 900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which has been disposed in line with extant laws.”

 

Bamisaiye further warned that the Western Marine Command will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individual or group attempting to undermine the government’s trade restrictions or fiscal policies.

“​ The inordinate quest by citizens to get rich by any means 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.

“The Command under my watch is poised more than ever to rid our waterways of all acts of smuggling and economic saboteurs for the benefit of the growth of the economy of Nigeria.

While taking into custody of the seized items, the newly appointed Marine Commander NDLEA DCN Emmanuel Morrison reaffirmed commitment to custom’s , NDLEA collaboration adding that the visit to the unit was aimed to build on the existing working relationship between the two agencies of the government.

Morrison noted that synergy among the two agencies was key towards reducing smuggling of illicit drugs into the country.

 

He commended management of the service for the fight against smuggling on the back waters .