How Customs’ Destruction Of 10,000kg Cannabis Renders Dealers Jobless, As Cost Rose By 400%

Following the recent destruction of about 10,000 kilogrammes of cannabis in Lagos by operatives of the Western Marine Command of Nigerian Customs Service , indications have revealed  that the commodity is in high demand due to scarcity.

 

DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA gathered that  cost of the commodity has risen above 400% due to the scarcity.

 

Checks revealed that a wrap of weed which cost N100 in March 2020 now goes for #400 per wrap.

 

Research states that Cannabis Sativa which is also known (Marijuana) AAA type intercepted by the Marine unit of Customs is the highest quality of various weed categories.

 

It is authoritative to state that the item is not prohibited and cannot be labeled “contraband” but shippers must get necessary approval from relevant authorities before Importation can be effected.

Cannabis is classified under Schedule 2, Section 2 as  vegetable product of page 34 of ECOWAS Common External Tariff  (CET) HS code  06029000 of 5% duty and 7.5% VAT declared.

 

Our correspondent confirmed that dealers of marijuana in some part of Lagos State have run short of the items, even as some affirmed that the recent destruction by  operatives of the service contributed to the scarcity.

 

Similarly, a die hard smoker of the item has called on entertainers to protest over the scarcity of weed and high cost of marijuana.

 

The young man who spoke in Yoruba urged entertainers like Naira Marley, Burna Boy and Zlatan not to relent in ensuring that they protest over the high cost of weed.

 

In a viral video made available to our correspondent on Saturday, the smoker lamented that the service had made standard of living unbearable for them, as the cost of rice, vegetable oil, second hand clothing are extremely high, adding that the youths would rise up against any attempt to eradicate weed from the Nigerian society.

 

 

Recall that the Comptroller of the Western Marine Command,  Olugboyega Peter’s, told journalists  in Badagry, that the cannabis was recovered on April 21, 2020 at Agaja Beach in Lagos State, worth over a billion naira.

 

Peters stressed that drugs recovered were high grade.

 

He said, “The drugs were recovered on April 21, 2020 at Agaja Beach on the high sea. It has a DPV value of over a billion naira weighing 10,000 kg. The exit point was the high seas.

 

He said, “The negative effect of hard drugs on our people cannot be emphasised. It impairs cognitive and psychomotor performance.

 

“This is unprecedented because this is the best grade of Indian hemp. Experts say it is AAA grade. This is the first time we would have this kind of cannabis,” he added.

 

The briefing coincided with the United Nations International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking celebrated annually on June 26.

 

 

By Roland Ekama