The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, has intercepted contraband including cocaine, arms, and ammunition, with an estimated street value of N4.3 billion. The disclosure was made by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during the official handover of the seized items at the command.
Adeniyi revealed that the intercepted contraband originated from South Africa and Canada, showcasing the global nature of the illicit trade. The seized items included 65 packets of Colorado Indica weighing 32.5 kilograms, confirmed to be cocaine, and various other substances.
Among the confiscated items were pistols, live ammunition, precursor chemicals for drug manufacturing, tartaric acid, and unspecified substances. The contraband was traced back to 40-foot containers imported from Canada and Durban, South Africa.
The total seized substances included 56.39 kilograms of cocaine valued at N2.3 billion and 955 kilograms of Colorado Indica valued at N1.9 billion, amounting to a street value of N4.3 billion. The Customs boss detailed the weaponry seized, consisting of five pistols, 445 rounds of live ammunition, and numerous empty pistol magazines.
Adeniyi emphasized the collaborative efforts between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), noting their effectiveness in pooling resources and intelligence to safeguard the nation’s borders. He highlighted the challenges posed by sophisticated smuggling networks and underscored the need for enhanced cooperation and advanced strategies to fortify the nation’s borders.
Acknowledging the collaborative efforts, NDLEA Director General Buba Marwa commended the diligence of security agencies in securing the country’s territory. The interception of the illicit drugs underscored the commitment to thorough examination and the sharing of intelligence between the NDLEA and the Tincan Island Command of the NCS.
