"Nigeria has become Importer, Exporter and great user of hard drugs" these were the words of Comptroller Abubakar Umar, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) when he was giving a breakdown of the Cannabis Sativa seized by his command recently.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Comptroller Umar said a total seized Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) weighing about 16,663kg and estimated at a street value of N2,061,000,000; was intercepted while on their way into the country from Ghana along the waterways.
While frowning at this importation, the CAC said; “Importation like this won’t help our country’s development; We all know the harms that Cannabis Sativa pose to our youths. It is illegal to ship such contraband into Nigeria and we will continue to thwart the efforts of unscrupulous importers who derive joy in bringing in such substance into the country”.
The command boss who handed over the seized cannabis to Mr. isaac Uzah, the NDLEA Marine Commander in the presence of other operatives of the drug agency, also disclosed that the command between June and October 2022 also seized 1575 bags of foreign parboiled rice equivalent to more than 2 trailer loads and worth N39,375,000, 28,735 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) contained in 1,077 kegs of 25 liter size and equivalent to one tanker load valued at N4,921,700 and other seizures were 5 wooden boats with 4 engines as means of conveyance worth N13,750,000 and 2 sacks of suspected gun powder.
The customs boss however, noted that arresting suspects connected to amphibious smuggling activities have been very difficult for his officers as the activities are always carried out at nights the same time legitimate fisher men would also be on the waters and the smugglers usually dive into the waters.
“We don’t usually use our arms when apprehending these suspects or making seizures on the waterways because it’s usually at night and there are always fishermen. Our officers aren’t trigger happy, so they have to be cautious to avoid shooting at ordinary fishermen who still operate on these creeks and waterways at night,” he said.
While warning criminals who would want to use the yuletide season to smuggle in goods through the waterways, Compt. Umar said the command is more than ready for them, as the command is equipped with 250 well trained personnel with 50 more expected from the training college, Nine of their operational boats are to be refurbished, seven new ones to be bought in soon as the approval has been given from the head quartets to compliment the already existing nine boats currently in use by the command.
The Area Controller use the opportunity to appreciate the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) and his management team for giving the command the needed support with the necessary facilities to enable them carry out their duties. He showcased the newly constructed conference room which according to is the first in the history of the command.
"Nigeria has become Importer, Exporter and great user of hard drugs" these were the words of Comptroller Abubakar Umar, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) when he was giving a breakdown of the Cannabis Sativa seized by his command recently.
The customs boss however, noted that arresting suspects connected to amphibious smuggling activities have been very difficult for his officers as the activities are always carried out at nights the same time legitimate fisher men would also be on the waters and the smugglers usually dive into the waters.
“We don’t usually use our arms when apprehending these suspects or making seizures on the waterways because it’s usually at night and there are always fishermen. Our officers aren’t trigger happy, so they have to be cautious to avoid shooting at ordinary fishermen who still operate on these creeks and waterways at night,” he said.
While warning criminals who would want to use the yuletide season to smuggle in goods through the waterways, Compt. Umar said the command is more than ready for them, as the command is equipped with 250 well trained personnel with 50 more expected from the training college, Nine of their operational boats are to be refurbished, seven new ones to be bought in soon as the approval has been given from the head quartets to compliment the already existing nine boats currently in use by the command.
The Area Controller use the opportunity to appreciate the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) and his management team for giving the command the needed support with the necessary facilities to enable them carry out their duties. He showcased the newly constructed conference room which according to is the first in the history of the command.
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