The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command in its continued efforts to purge the Western Waterways of the offensive activities of smuggling has intercepted and seized Seventeen (17) Sacks containing One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven (1,257) loaves of Cannabis Sativa with a combined weight of 609kg worth over 96 Million Naira.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Paul Kola Bamisaiye in charge of the Command relayed the message to the media at the Command’s office at Ibafon area of Coconut, Lagos. On the 4th day of June 2024.
The CAC noted that the Seventeen (17) sacks containing One thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven (1,257) loaves of Cannabis Sativa which includes Seventy Two (72) loaves that were previously seized by the Command with a combined weight of 609kg worth over 96 Million Naira handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Similarly the Comptroller stressed that at about 2300hrs on Wednesday 15 May 2024, a patrol team of Officers and Men of WMC at the Bar beach station of the Command 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 that upon receiving the information the team moved towards the described location and intercepted one fiber boat fitted with 200HP Yamaha Engine carrying sacks of the suspected items.
He disclosed that in a related development on Sunday 19 May 2024 a joint team of Officers and Men of the Command while on routine patrol along Panko Creek, Badagry Waterways, intercepted one wooden boat fitted with a 25HP Yamaha engine carrying suspected contraband items and upon sighting our patrol Boats abandoned their Boat and dived into the water.
He also said that in a careful examination of the items being conveyed revealed Five Hundred and Five (505) Bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice having a combined DPV of Fifty Nine Million, One Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira (N59, 185,000.00) of both items and Means of Conveyance.
He said that the actions of these smugglers is a direct contravention of sections 245 and 254 of NCS Act 2023 which WMC is responsible for enforcing.
He said that in the spirit of interagency synergy and collaboration in line with the Comptroller General’s (CGC) policy thrust, the Western Marine Command (WMC) under his leadership has received approval to handover .
The CAC showed appreciation to the CGC and Management of NCS for the motivation they provide to the WMC under Compt. Paul Bamisaiye
He equally appealed to the general and trading public not to engage in illicit drugs. And to stop smuggling which lead to economic sabotage as drugs continue to be a menace to society and serves as the source of other criminal acts, like banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery.
In conclusion, he affirmed that the Command is poised more than ever to improve on its performance in the years ahead.
