Nigeria Customs intercepts 1,958kg of cannabis worth N398m in Lagos, marking the largest seizure under the current administration
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, has intercepted 53 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 1,958kg with a duty-paid value of N398 million in Lagos.
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The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Lomba Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, highlighting the agency’s intensified crackdown on drug smuggling.
According to the Customs Area Controller, Paul Bamisaiye, the contraband was intercepted at Ilase Sea Beach, approximately 200 nautical miles from the Lagos Anchorage.
The smugglers attempted to evade arrest by abandoning their boat and jumping into the sea. However, Customs officers secured the vessel and brought it back to base, where they discovered 3,793 loaves of cannabis sativa packed into 53 sacks.
“The duty-paid value of the seizure is N398 million. This was made possible by the intensified efforts of our ever-focused and eagle-eyed officers,” Bamisaiye stated.
The operation, which took place on Thursday at around 11pm, marks the largest single cannabis seizure under Bamisaiye’s administration.
Two months prior, the Western Marine Command seized 15 sacks of cannabis, containing 1,021 loaves weighing 538kg, with a duty-paid value of N107 million.
Bamisaiye commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for equipping the command with critical resources to combat smuggling.
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In line with established protocols, the seized drugs will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
