The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed the operation of a cartel of drug smugglers at the Tin Can Port in Lagos, and
According to the agency, the contraband which was in 40 parcels, weighed 43.11 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of over N32 billion.
The NDLEA said the consignment containing the illicit drug was put under surveillance by operatives of the Tincan Command for some days, until two clearing agents showed up on Monday, February 8, 2021, to clear it.
According to the Commander, Tincan Port Command of the NDLEA, Sumaila Ethan, the two clearing agents were promptly arrested and the consignment, which was brought into Nigeria from Bazil on board a vessel named MV SPAR SCORPIO.
The NDLEA Commander said, while briefing the media on Tuesday at the Ikoyi office of the agency: “After a thorough search, we discovered 40 compressed parcels, which laboratory investigations confirmed to be cocaine. The two clearing agents have been taken into custody while we continue with the investigation. The seizure is no doubt an attestation to the renewed vigour in the operations of the agency”.
While commending the Commander, officers and men of the Tincan Port Command for the operation, NDLEA Chairman Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) charged them and other Commands across the country to remain vigilant and on red alert.
“The successes we’re recording in the last three weeks can only serve as a challenge to raise the bar and do more. We’ll continue to do our best to motivate the officers and men of the agency, and we expect full commitment, dedication to work and discipline in return so that we can collectively achieve the goal of ridding our nation of illicit drugs”, he stated.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Tin Can Command of the Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Uche Ejieseme also gave further insight into how the drugs were seized.
He explained that, "during routine discharge of Bulk Sugar at about 1103hrs on Monday 8th February, 2021 at the Josepdam Terminal, the terminal operator noticed two bags of substances in the hopper that is used to discharge sugar from the vessel into waiting trucks in the terminal”.
He added that, "the bags were recovered by the Terminal’s security operatives who now invited the PSO to the Port Manager to report the development, without recourse to the Customs.
"However, we understand that the substances have been handed over to the NDLEA. In this circumstance, it is only the NDLEA that can give further details on this issue", he said.
