Western Marine Customs seizes Cannabis, Pharmaceuticals, Hands over to NDLEA, NAFDAC
Western Marine Customs Seizes Cannabis, Pharmaceuticals, Hands Over to NDLEA, NAFDAC
By Tunde Ojudun
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 822 loaves of cannabis and 532 bottles of controlled pharmaceutical products, handing them over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) after intelligence-led operations along Nigeria’s waterways.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, disclosed the seizure during a media briefing at the command headquarters on Wednesday. He explained that operatives, acting on credible intelligence, uncovered narcotics concealed in sacks of second-hand clothing along creeks and maritime routes.
“About 320 loaves of cannabis sativa were discovered inside 10 sacks of second-hand clothing,” Ntadi said, describing the seizure as a major breakthrough in the command’s anti-smuggling efforts.
A breakdown of seized items include cannabis (sativa and indica variants): 822 loaves, handed over to NDLEA for investigation and destruction. Pharmaceutical products are 532 bottles of codeine and other controlled substances, transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action.
Other contrabands seized are 10 bales of used clothing, 569 pairs of adult shoes, and 517 pairs of children’s shoes.
The Customs boss gave the Duty Paid Value of the seizures as over ₦117 million, with cannabis sativa valued at ₦46.7 million and cannabis indica estimated at ₦71 million.
Ntadi noted that several suspects escaped by diving into the waterways, a common tactic among smugglers in coastal areas. He commended officers for their resilience under challenging marine patrol conditions and emphasized that inter-agency cooperation is critical to disrupting drug trafficking and trans-border crime.
Receiving the exhibits, Olufemi, Deputy Commander of Narcotics at NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command, praised Customs for its consistent role in combating illicit drug trafficking and warned that offenders would face prosecution.
At the event, Comptroller Ntadi was honoured by the African International Wrestling Federation for his support of anti-smuggling advocacy and youth development. The group also unveiled a “Pro-Wrestling Against Border Smuggling” campaign, aimed at using sports and entertainment to raise public awareness on border crimes.
