ANTI-SMUGGLING: WESTERN MARINE CUSTOMS TIGHTENS THE NOOSE ON WATERWAYS SMUGGLERS, INTERCEPTS N107.2M WORTH OF CANNABIS SATIVA WORTH

ANTI-SMUGGLING: WESTERN MARINE CUSTOMS TIGHTENS THE NOOSE ON WATERWAYS SMUGGLERS; INTERCEPTS N107.2M WORTH OF CANNABIS SATIVA WORTH

Comptroller PK Bamisaiye, CAC, Western Marine Command, NCS

As the year 2024 winds down, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command (WMC), have continued to demonstrate commitment to the war against unwholesome activities of smugglers in the nation’s western waterways as recent anti-smuggling developments at the command unfolds.           

The command this time tends to have send strong warnings to hard recalcitrant drugs smugglers who may want to catch in in the relax mood associated with this end of the year festive period to perpetrate their illicit act, with the recent interceptions of about 15 sacks of Cannabis Sativa worth over N107.2 million naira.

According t the analysis of the seizure, the command through a press statement made available by its Public Relations Officer, Mailafia, had on the 16th of December, 2024, effected another seizure of 15 sacks of Cannabis Sativa containing 1,021 loaves of the illicit substances.

According to the statement, the consignment, which was intercepted the command’s enforcement officers along the Ajido waterways in the Yekeme axis of the Command, was examined at the Command headquarters, at Ibafon, Apapa and found to have a total weight of 538kg with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N107,205,000.00.

It was said that the offensive items were intercepted at the waterfront, while the suspected smugglers had grounded their boat in an attempt to offload the illicit hard drugs onto land.

The Seized bags of Cannabis Sativa displayed at the command

However, upon sighting the vigilant Marine officers of the command, the suspects abandoned the offensive items and fled the scene.                   

It was also made known that despite the hostile environment, the Patrol Team successfully secured the sacks, transferred them into their official patrol boats, and transported the contraband to the Western Marine Command Headquarters for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Paul

Bamisaiye, has heaped praises on the Comptroller-General of Customs (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 said that this support has empowered the Command to achieve remarkable successes in ensuring that smugglers have no safe haven on our waterways, thereby creating a secure and thriving environment for legitimate trade.

Furthermore, the Western Marine Command, under the watchful eyes of Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, has expressed its readiness to ensure that the waterways remain effectively secured from smuggling activities during this critical festive period.

“The Command is not unaware that some unpatriotic members of the public usually attempt to take advantage of the Yuletide season to execute their nefarious acts of smuggling. It hereby warns that strategies have been perfected for the coming holiday season to checkmate all such criminal acts.

The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to protecting the nation’s waterways and ensuring a safe environment for lawful trade and activities”, the CAC said in affirmative.