Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Services, Western Marine Command (WMC) has continued to burst the covers of die hard smugglers using the waterways to perpetrate their evil acts.
The Command successfully intercepted Contrabands valued at over 900 million Naira from the period of August to October 2023.
According to a press statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, SC Mailafiya Magaji on behalf of the CAC, Comptroller Salefu, it states that the Command executed rigorous border enforcement and regulatory activities, resulting in the arrest and seizure of significant illegal goods, and this is said to be in accordance with its primary mandate outlined in Section 4 of the NCS Act 2023.
The statement highlights the goods seized within the period under review in quote “During the operations, officers and men of the WMC confiscated 17 sacks containing 1,199 loaves of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), totaling 663.5kg in September and October 2023. These arrests were conducted along the Moba waterways and Sanki Beach Axis on the 31st of August 2023 and 4th of October 2023, respectively.
“Under the leadership of Comptroller Odaudu Salefu, the WMC also apprehended 66,000 capsules of 225mg Tramadol and 1,257 sacks of foreign parboiled rice, collectively exceeding a duty paid value of 50 million Naira.
“In a related incident, the Command seized 3,750 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during two separate arrests on the 27th of October 2023.
“It is noteworthy that in August 2023, the WMC seized 103 sacks containing 8,240 loaves of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), promptly handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on the 7th of September, 2023” it reads.
The cumulative value of the ten seizures conducted by the Command from August to October 2023 amounts to N923,794,000 Naira only.
It however reads that Comptroller Salefu emphasizes the imperative for the general public to respect and adhere to government fiscal policies, prohibitions, and restrictions. These measures are in place to safeguard national security, foster economic growth, and contribute to the overall progress of Nigeria.
