The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over seized cannabis sativa, psychotropic substances and high-grade mercury to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
During a press briefing on Thursday, the Comptroller in charge of the unit, Gambo Aliyu, said the handover demonstrated the NCS’s commitment to national security, public health, environmental safety and the economic well-being of Nigerians.
Aliyu said the seizures were made by officers during sustained anti-smuggling operations along border corridors, highways and other strategic locations within the unit’s area of responsibility.
Items handed over to the NDLEA included 5,669 parcels and 19 sacks of synthetic strain of cannabis sativa weighing 3,116.9kg; 3.5 packs of ground cannabis (Skunk) weighing 3.45kg; two packs of granular cannabis (Skunk) weighing 1kg; 11 small packs of granular cannabis (Skunk) weighing 0.35kg; 49 wraps of cannabis (Skunk) weighing 26.1kg; 24 packets of Backwoods Russian Cream Cigars weighing 0.5g; one wrap of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg; 1,754 packs and 6,948 sachets of Tramadol tablets of 225mg and 100mg; 1,200 tablets of Hypnox 1mg; and 97 bottles of codeine syrup.
Three suspects arrested in connection with the seizures were also handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Aliyu said the seized narcotics had an estimated street value of ₦3.951 billion.
He said illicit drugs fuel addiction, criminality, violence and other social vices, while posing a direct threat to the future of Nigerian youths.
In the same operation, Customs officers also intercepted four cylinders of high-grade mercury, each weighing 34.5kg.
The chemical, which is controlled under the Minamata Convention because of its environmental hazards and use in illegal gold mining, was handed over to NESREA for further regulatory action.
“The formal transfer of these items to NDLEA and NESREA will enable the agencies to conduct appropriate forensic, investigative and prosecutorial processes in accordance with the law, and ensure secure handling and disposal,” Aliyu said.
He stressed that no single agency could effectively confront trans-border crime alone, and called for continued collaboration through intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building.
Aliyu commended the leadership and personnel of the NDLEA and NESREA for their cooperation and professionalism, and reaffirmed that the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, would continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies, surveillance and robust enforcement to disrupt smuggling networks.
“We remain committed to facilitating legitimate trade while firmly preventing the movement of prohibited, harmful and improperly regulated goods across our borders,” he added.
