Western Marine Customs Battles Drugs Smugglers on Waterways, Records Humongous Seizures worth N398M

Western Marine Customs Battles Drugs Smugglers on Waterways, Records Humongous Seizures worth N398M

Comptroller YK Bamisaiye, CAC, WMC

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has continued its supremacy stance in the battle against unwholesome smuggling elements in the nation’s western waterways and achieving huge seizure feat in this regard.                 

With a reinvigorated and renewed resolve to keep re-strategizing its operational modalities, especially in the area of anti-smuggling activities recently paid off, when on Thursday 20 February, 2025 at about 2300 hours (11pm), the intensified efforts by the ever focused and eagle-eyed officers of the Command   inside the sea led to the highest single operational seizure of cannabis sativa.

The seizure was recorded under the watch of an exceptional leadership of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller PK Bamisaiye, a nonsense Customs Area Controller of the command who will stop at nothing to truncate activities of all forms of smugglers, especially those that indulged in hard drugs which is inimical to the nation’s coexistence.

Comptroller Bamisaiye displaying the seized Cannabis Sativa

This seizure disclosure which was contained in a press statement made available by the newly redeployed Public Relations Officer CSC Lomba Benjamin recalled two months ago, when the Command made a seizure of 15 sacks of cannabis Sativa weighting 538kg and comprising of 1,021 loaves worth N107,205,000 of the illicit substance.               

In his address on the Seizure, the CAC, Comptroller Bamisaiye while explaining narrated that his field Officers having received credible intelligence were patrolling close to Ilase sea beach, at about 200 nautical miles from the Lagos anchorage when they sighted the smugglers.

He further said, the smugglers tried to outrun our officers but when they couldn’t, they decided to abandon their boat by jumping 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 weighted 1,958kg. According to him, the Duty paid value of the seizure is put at a total of N398,265,000.

Comptroller Bamisaiye however appreciated the CGC and his management team for being instrumental in supporting the fight against smuggling operations by providing critical resources and equipment to the Western Marine Command. He pointed that, in line with the established procedures the hard drugs will be handed over to Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). He further noted that, his led command shall continue to partner with other sister agencies in ensuring that the nation’s borders are well protected.

“This seizure is consistent with the Command’s resolve as earlier stated to sustain its anti-smuggling drive and operations”, he said. The CAC re-iterated the commitment and resolve of the command in making the nation’s waterway axis a no safe haven for smugglers, thereby creating a secured and thriving environment free from all illicit goods.

He however warned all unpatriotic elements to desist from the illegal business or they will be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.