Mr Paul Bamisaiye, the Controller of Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says the command has intercepted 17 sacks of hemp valued at N96 million.
Bamisaiye made the disclosure while handing over the seized bags of hemp to NDLEA for further investigation on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that the seized bags contained 1, 257 loaves of hemp.
Bamisaiye said that at about 11:00 p.m. on May 15, a patrol team of officers and men of the command at the Bar Beach Station, received credible intelligence on movement of a boat on the high sea along the beach location, carrying items suspected to be offending items.
He said, “Upon receiving the information, the team moved toward the described location and intercepted one fibre boat fitted with 200HP Yamaha engine, carrying sacks of the suspected items.
“Also on Sunday, May 19, a joint team of officers and men of the command, along Panko Creek, Badagry Waterways, intercepted one wooden boat fitted with a 25HP Yamaha engine carrying suspected contraband items.”
He said upon sighting customs patrol boats, the suspects abandoned their boat and dived into the water.
“A careful examination of the items being conveyed revealed 505 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice having a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N59.1 million.
“The actions of these smugglers is a direct contravention of NCS Act 2023 which Western Marine Command (WMC) is responsible for enforcing.”
Bamisaiye appealed to the general and trading public not to engage in illicit drugs business.
Bamisaiye urged the men of the command to redouble their efforts and arrest suspects along with their contraband to deter other smugglers.
While receiving the intercepted hemp from customs, the Assistant Commander Narcotics, NDLEA, Mr Bashir Magaji, commended the NCS for intensifying efforts to suppress smuggling.
Magaji assured that investigation would continue from where customs stopped.
