In a significant blow to drug cartels operating within Nigeria’s coastal waters and land borders, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) executed a decisive move by delivering a substantial cache of illicit substances, suspected to be Cannabis Sativa and Tramadol, to the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The official handover ceremony unfolded on Thursday, 23 November 2023, at the Customs Warehouse in Karu, Abuja.
During a press briefing, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, Comptroller-General of Customs, disclosed that the intercepted substances resulted from collaborative operations conducted by the Western Marine Command, FOU Zone ‘A,’ and Zone ‘B’ formations. Key contributors included the Ogun 1 Area Command and Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C.’
Highlighting the commitment of both the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA to combatting drug trafficking, CGC Adeniyi underscored the importance of community support, stating, “This is a battle for every citizen.”
The seized items comprised 13,567 parcels of Cannabis Sativa from Zone ‘A,’ 1,511 parcels and 292 bags of Indian Hemp from Zone ‘B,’ and 3,213 parcels and blocks, along with 935 sacks of Cannabis Sativa from Zone ‘C’. Ogun I Command seized 2,223 wraps and 144 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, weighing a total of 3,312.7kg, while the Western Marine Command contributed 2,205 parcels weighing 624kg.
The handover ceremony marked a significant step in the collaborative efforts against drug trafficking, as the Director of Narcotics, Samuel Gazama, representing the Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its pivotal role in cleansing the country of illicit drugs. Gazama stressed the severe societal threat posed by Cannabis Sativa and affirmed the NDLEA’s unwavering commitment to collaboration with the NCS in the relentless fight against drug trafficking. He concluded, “We will not relent until our battles on drug trafficking are achieved.”
This operation signifies a crucial milestone in the ongoing fight against drug-related crimes in Nigeria, reflecting the joint commitment of law enforcement agencies to secure the nation’s borders and safeguard its citizens.
By Haruna A. Yusuf
