Customs seizes 15,000kg of substances, hands over to NDLEA
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a significant step in the fight against drug cartels, handing over a substantial quantity of seized substances, suspected to be Cannabis Sativa and Tramadol, weighing over 15,000kg, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The handover ceremony, marking a pivotal moment in the battle against drug trafficking, took place at the Customs Warehouse in Karu, Abuja, on Thursday, 23 November 2023.
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CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, the Comptroller-General of Customs, revealed that the seized substances were the result of operations carried out by the Western Marine Command, FOU Zone ‘A,’ and Zone ‘B,’ in addition to notable contributions from the Ogun 1 Area Command and Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C.’
This cooperative effort demonstrates the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA in combating drug trafficking, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2023. Highlighting the significance of public support, CGC Adeniyi emphasized that “This is a battle for every citizen.”
The seized items, including Cannabis Sativa and Tramadol, were amassed from various zones, with 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.’ Notably, Ogun 1 Command contributed 2,223 wraps and 144 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, amounting to 3,312.7kg, while the Western Marine Command added 2,205 parcels weighing 624kg to the substantial total.
Representing the Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, the Director of Narcotics, Samuel Gazama, expressed appreciation for the pivotal role played by the Nigeria Customs Service in combating illicit drugs.
Gazama highlighted the societal threat posed by Cannabis Sativa and reaffirmed the NDLEA’s unwavering commitment to collaboration with the NCS in the relentless fight against drug trafficking, asserting, “We will not relent until our battles on drug trafficking are achieved.”