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The Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has intercepted a massive haul of illicit drugs, including cannabis sativa and Tramaking tablets, with a total Duty Paid Value of N117,587,405.
The Controller of the Ogun Area 1 Command, Comptroller James Ojo, revealed this during a media briefing on Friday while handing over the contraband to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
He described the alarming rise in drug smuggling as worrisome and a significant threat to national security.
“The scale of illicit drug smuggling in recent times is alarming and worrisome,” Ojo lamented.
The seizures, made across various strategic locations in Ogun State, underscore the severity of drug trafficking within Nigeria’s borders, he noted.
According to him, details of the seizures — the contraband includes:
Cannabis Sativa (5,256 coconut-size wraps): Valued at N46,981,742.
Cannabis Sativa (46 book-size wraps): Valued at N411,179.
Cannabis Sativa (1,202 bread-size wraps): Valued at N10,744,302.
Cannabis Sativa (403 sacks): Valued at N16,010,182.
In total, the seized items comprised 403 sacks and 6,504 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,217.7 kg, alongside 362 packs of Tramaking tablets (225mg each), intercepted at hotspots such as the Agbawo/Iganokoto area in Yewa North and Imeko Afon Local Government Areas.
Curbing Smuggling
Ojo highlighted the Ogun Area 1 Command’s unwavering commitment to combating drug smuggling, noting that between January and November 21, 2024, operatives successfully intercepted substantial quantities of illegal substances through credible intelligence and strategic operations.
“For instance, between October 13 and November 12, 2024, our operatives intercepted a total of 1,373 parcels of cannabis sativa (weighing 1,337 kg) and 362 packs of Tramaking tablets (225mg each) abandoned at various locations, including the Abeokuta axis, Agbawo/Iganokoto, and the Imeko Afon axis,” Ojo detailed.
Commending his officers for their vigilance and bravery, Ojo issued a stern warning to those involved in drug trafficking and smuggling, urging them to desist or face the full force of the law.
NDLEA Collaboration
Receiving the intercepted contraband, Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, Olusegun Adeyeye, praised the Customs Command for its relentless efforts in the fight against drug trafficking.
“This seizure is a testament to the synergy between the NDLEA and Customs in combating the menace of drug abuse and smuggling,” Adeyeye stated, emphasising the importance of collaboration in protecting Nigeria’s youth, families, and communities.
