The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, said it intercepted 53 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 1,958kg with a duty-paid value of N398m in Lagos.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Lomba Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Speaking on the seizures, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Paul Bamisaiye, said that the contrabands were intercepted at Ilase Sea Beach, about 200 nautical miles from the Lagos Anchorage.
He said that the smugglers tried to run away but were overpowered by the officers, “they abandoned the boat and jumped into the sea.”
“The boat was quickly secured and brought to the office where it was found to contain 3,793 loaves of cannabis sativa divided into 53 sacks and weighed 1,958kg. The duty paid value of the seizure is N398m,” he said.
He stressed that the contrabands, which were intercepted on Thursday at about 11pm, were a result of the intensified efforts by the ever-focused and eagle-eyed officers of the command.
He said that the interception was the highest single operational seizure of cannabis sativa under his administration.
Bamisaiye added that two months ago, the command made a seizure of 15 sacks containing 1,021 loves of cannabis sativa weighing 538kg worth N107m.
He appreciated the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team for their support in the fight against smuggling operations by providing critical resources and equipment to the command.
However, Bamisaiye emphasised that in line with the established procedures, the hard drugs will be handed over to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
He said that the command will continue to partner with other sister agencies in ensuring that the nation’s borders are well protected.
