The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, has handed over 4,973 loaves of Cannabis Sativa and two suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
The command said it had also transferred 195 bottles of 300ml codeine to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The NCS disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Friday, stating that the handover took place at the command headquarters on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
According to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, the seizure resulted from intensified patrol operations across the South-Western waterways.
“You will recall just last week, on Friday 21st February 2025 to be precise, the command informed members of the press of the seizure of 53 sacks of Cannabis Sativa,” Bamisaiye stated.
He revealed that in another operation on Monday, February 24, a patrol team intercepted two suspects within the Badagry axis, concealing 29 loaves of Cannabis Sativa in a sack of rebagged rice.
“This success is a result of strong inter-agency collaboration. No single agency can win this fight alone; together, we are making a real impact,” he said, reaffirming the commitment of the NCS to securing Nigeria’s waterways and curbing illicit trade.
The Customs chief further issued a stern warning to smugglers, saying, “Our message to smugglers is clear; we are vigilant, resolute, and will not relent.”
While receiving the items, the Marine Commander of the NDLEA, Emmanuel Udo, assured that the agency would ensure proper investigation and prosecution of the suspects, commending the Customs Service for its sustained efforts in combating drug trafficking.
The Western Marine Command has been intensifying its anti-smuggling operations, particularly along Nigeria’s waterways, as part of broader national efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking and smuggling activities.
