The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over more than three tonnes of cannabis, other illicit drugs, and four cylinders of high-grade mercury, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
The hand over was held at the unit’s headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday.
Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, said the items were intercepted during sustained anti-smuggling operations along border corridors, highways and other strategic locations in the unit’s area of responsibility.
The narcotics transferred to the NDLEA included 5,669 parcels and 19 sacks of a synthetic strain of cannabis sativa weighing 3,116.9kg; 3½ packs of ground cannabis (skunk) weighing 3.45kg; two packs of granular cannabis (skunk) weighing 1kg; 11 small packs of granular cannabis weighing 0.35kg; 49 wraps of cannabis (skunk) weighing 26.1kg; 24 packets of Backwoods Russian Cream cigars weighing 0.5g; and one wrap of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.
Also handed over were 1,754 packs and 6,948 sachets of 225mg and 100mg tramadol tablets, 1,200 Hypnox 1mg tablets and 97 bottles of codeine syrup.
Aliyu put the street value of the seized narcotics at ₦3,951,085,000.
Three suspects arrested in connection with the seizures were transferred with the drugs for investigation and possible prosecution.
“The illicit movement of cannabis sativa and other controlled substances poses a serious threat to public health, national security and the future of our young people,” he said. “Such substances fuel addiction, criminality, violence and other social problems.”
He said the Service would keep disrupting narcotics supply chains and sharing intelligence with the NDLEA.
Similarly, officers intercepted four cylinders of high-grade mercury weighing 34.5kg each; 138kg in total, which Aliyu said is used in illegal small-scale gold mining.
He described the chemical as dual-use, environmentally hazardous and controlled under the Minamata Convention. The cylinders were handed to NESREA.
According to Aliyu, no single agency can tackle contemporary smuggling and trans-border crime alone, and called for continued information sharing, joint operations, coordinated intelligence and prompt transfer of exhibits that fall under partner agencies’ mandates.
“The Federal Operations Unit will not relent. We will continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies, enhanced surveillance, effective patrols and robust enforcement operations to disrupt the activities of smugglers and criminal networks”, he said.
He commended NDLEA and NESREA personnel, as well as other sister agencies, and pledged that the unit would keep facilitating legitimate trade while blocking prohibited and harmful goods.
