Barely five days after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) uncovered 25.5kg of cocaine on a Brazilian-flagged vessel, both agencies have recorded yet another major drug interception at the Apapa Port, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Acting on credible intelligence provided by the NDLEA, operatives of the two agencies intercepted a fresh consignment of Canadian Loud, a high-grade strain of cannabis concealed inside an imported vehicle.
The illicit shipment, discovered during a joint examination, was traced to a 1×20-foot container with registration number FCIU 6369526, which carried two vehicles.
A total of 2,374 packages of cannabis were found packed in 55 bags, with an overall weight of 1,187kg. Each sachet of the drug was reportedly packaged in 500-gram portions. The consignment has since been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.
Speaking on the operation, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, commended the strong inter-agency collaboration that led to the successful seizure. He reaffirmed the Service’s zero-tolerance stance on smuggling activities.
According to him, few days ago, “I stated that no consignment will exit our control from this port without due checks. Our synergy as government agencies will always give us an edge over criminal elements.
“No matter the volume of trade we are processing, we will never sacrifice national security or the economy for any form of trade. While we remain focused on collecting maximum revenue for the government, our eagle-eyed officers are fully alert at all times.”
The Comptroller issued a stern warning to importers, exporters, freight forwarders and licensed agents ahead of the festive season, cautioning against attempts to compromise port security.
“Anyone who dares our resolve this Yuletide season and beyond will face the full wrath of the law. Investigations are ongoing, and we shall ensure that all those involved in this shipment are brought to justice,” he added.
The joint operation reinforces the increasing vigilance of Nigerian security agencies as they intensify scrutiny of imports through the nation’s busiest seaport.
Olusola Akintonde