Customs: WMC Intercepts Illicit Drugs  Worth Over N1.26b

The Western Marine Command ,Nigeria Customs Service on Friday, said it intercepted expired and illicit drugs with a  total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1, 265,830,809.04 .

 

The Marine Customs formation disclosed  that a total of  232 sacks of the drugs with an average of 46kg per sack totalling 10,672 kg was recorded in the seizures.

 

The Acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller E. Ochiba gave the figure while handing over the contrabands to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the command headquarters in Lagos.

Comptroller Ochiba, said the street value of the cannabis stood at  N1, 120, 560,000.00 adding that on September 9, 2021, the operatives of the command while on stop and search operations along the waterways at Pashi of Yekeme axis, discovered some powdery substances suspected to be heroine concealed in a carton of Indomie noodles .

 

He maintained that one suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure saying that the powder substance was later sent for laboratory test analysis and was certified to be heroine.

 

The heroine which weighed 1.52 kg is valued at forty million, eight hundred and sixty thousand, eight hundred and forty one naira and two Kobo (N40, 860, 841, .02k) only.

 

He said, “Also, on Wednesday 15 September, 2021 at about 0020hrs, a team of patrol while on credible intelligence along Abumbum-Ojo waterways accosted and intercepted sacks suspected to contain drugs.

 

“The sacks were evacuated to the base and upon physical examination, they were found to contain the following drugs that have expired on the 27 April 2017 with the total value of Sixty Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Four Naira (N 62,252,794.00) only.

 

The expired drugs include; 817 Bottles of B-Vital, 1,158 Bottles of Kordy-capsule, 3,110 Bottles of Double Ginseng, 619 Bottles of Detoxin, 607 Bottles of B-care, 198 Sachets of Ninhuang Jeedu pian, 1,200 Sachets of St Formula

 

Others are: 475 Bottles of Apetamin Syrup, 7 Bottles of Spinsure Table, 17 Bottles of Danshen Plus, 7 Bottles of Arthro capsule, 13 Bottles of Spinsore Pill, 123 Bottles of Chitomeal.

 

“Bundles of printed labels of Double Ginseng with Batch no. DG 04021 with MFG Date: 29042021 and expiring Date of 28042024.

 

“The issue of concern on this arrest is that these expired drugs might have found its way into our Nigerian markets if not intercepted by our operatives. The smuggler intend to replace the expired labels with new labels carrying new manufacturing and expiry date as it can be seen on the bundles of printed labels of Double Ginseng accompanying the seized consignment.

 

“The new printed label is carrying 29042021 and 28042024 as manufacturing and expiry date respectively.

 

“Gentlemen of press, on Monday 20 September 2021 et about 1200hrs, our operatives while on official patrol intercepted Packs of drugs at Yekeme axis. Upon examination, it was found to contain 45 packs of 225mg Tramadol Hydrochloride Tablets with total value of Nine Hundred and Fifty Four

 

“Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Four Naira sad Two Kobo (N954,934.02k)

 

“Other seizures made within this period are: Eight Hundred and Eighty Three (883) Bags of 50Kg Foreign Parboiled Rice, Forty Nine (49) Sacks of Used Shoes, Forty Four (44) Sacks of New Shoes, 245 Kegs x 25lus of PMS, One (1) 40Hp Yamaha outboard engine, Six (6) Bales and Three (3) Sacks of Second hand clothing and bags.

 

“In a related development, on Friday 9 July 2021; the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft handed over 162 x 5OKg Bags of smuggled Foreign Rice intercepted at Lagos offshore, though no arrest was made as the smugglers dived into the sea on sighting the Navy Patrol Team.

 

“The DPV of the seizure is 5,184,000.00 only. Let me use this medium to commend the Nigerian Navy for their support towards the anti smuggling drive of the Command.

 

“This seizure is a symbol of cordial working relationship with Sister Agencies and also depict that the Security Agencies have no overlapping functions in the discharge of our statutory responsibilities,” he stated.

 

By Roland Ekama