By Anne Ejuka
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and seized illicit drugs and contrabands valued at about N1, 2billion within three months.
The acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Enonche Ochiba disclosed this to journalists during a briefing in his command recently, he said the seizures was made possible through the efforts of the existing patrol teams that cut across south west waterways
The command's helmsman who resumed duty on 5th July 2021, in his maiden briefing said he and his men have taken up a personal crusade against smugglers and economic saboteurs. He stated that, “Upon my assumption of office, I reorganized the anti smuggling activities of the Officers and Men of the Command and consolidating on the successes of my predecessor in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs I and my officers had to take up personal crusade against smugglers and economic saboteurs'.
In view of the above, a new team code named “Comptroller surveillance/Monitoring Patrol Team” was created to complement the efforts of our existing patrol teams that cut across South Western waterways”.
He added, “The Officers and Men have from July to date made several seizures ranging from used foreign shoes, second hand clothing, premium motor spirit (PMS), foreign rice, hard drugs among others’.
Still speaking, on Friday, 13 August, the Officers and Men of Coastal and Harbour Patrol together with the Comptroller General Surveillance/Monitoring team while on patrol along Kuramo Beach on the high sea accosted, intercepted and arrested sacks suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), but no arrest was made as the smugglers dived into the sea on sighting the patrol team.
The goods were taken to the WMC and upon physical examination and counting, it was found to be 232 sacks of Marijuana with an average of 46Kg per sack thereby giving an estimated total of 10,672Kg. The Street Value of the Marijuana is One Billion, One Hundred and Twenty Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira (N1, 120,560,000.00) only.
On the 9th of September, the operatives of the Command while on Stop and Search operations along the waterways at Pashi of Yekeme axis discovered some powdered substances suspected to be heroine concealed in cartons of a well known brand of noodles and one (1) suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure. The powder was later sent for laboratory test analysis and it was certified to be heroin weighing a total of 1.52Kg valued at Forty Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty One Naira and Two Kobo (N40, 860,841.02k) only.
Similarly, on the 15th of September, 2021, a team of patrol while on credible intelligence along Abumbum-Ojo waterways accosted and intercepted sacks suspected to contain drugs. The sacks were evacuated to the base and upon physical examination, they were found to contain the following drugs that have expired since the 27th of April 2017 with the total value of Sixty Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand , Seven Hundred and Ninety Four Naira (N 62,252,794.00) only.
Other seized drugs are 817 Bottles of B-Vital, 1,158 Bottles of Kordy-capsule, 3,110 Bottles of Double Ginseng, 619 Bottles of Detoxin, 607 Bottles of B-care, 198 Sachets of Ninhuang Jeedu pian, 1,200 Sachets of St Formula, 475 Bottles of Apetamin Syrup, 7 Bottles of Spinsure Table, 17 Bottles of Danshen Plus, 7 Bottles of Arthro capsule, 13 Bottles of Spinsore Pill, 123 Bottles of Chitomeal and also Bundles of printed labels of Double Ginseng with Batch no. DG 04021 with MFG Date: 29042021 and expiring Date of 28042024 were seized.
Acting CAC Ochiba noted that these expired drugs might found their way into the Nigerian market if not intercepted by his operatives, he added that the smugglers intended to replace the expired labels with new labels carrying new manufacturing and expiry date as can be seen on the bundles of printed labels of Double Ginseng accompanying the seized consignment. The new printed label is carrying 29042021 and 28042024 as manufacturing and expiry date respectively.
He added that the command also on 20th September 2021, his operatives while on official patrol intercepted Packs of drugs at Yekeme axis. Upon examination, they were found to contain 45 packs of 225mg Tramadol Hydrochloride Tablets with total value of nine hundred and fifty four thousand, nine hundred and thirty four naira and two kobo (N954,934.02k)
Other seizures made within this period are: Eight Hundred and Eighty Three (883) Bags of 50Kg Foreign Parboiled Rice, Forty Nine (49) Sacks of Used Shoes. Forty Four (44) Sacks of New Shoes, 245 Kegs x 25ltrs of PMS, One (1) 40Hp Yamaha outboard engine, Six (6) bales and Three (3) sacks of second hand clothing and bags.
In a related development, on the 9th of July, the Nigerian Navy ship Beecroft handed over 162 x50Kg Bags of smuggled Foreign Rice intercepted at Lagos offshore, though no arrest was made as the smugglers dived into the sea on sighting the Navy Patrol Team. The DPV of the seizures is Five Million, One Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand Naira (#5,184,000.00) only.
In his words, “Let me use this medium to commend the Nigerian Navy for their support towards the anti smuggling drive of the Command”.
This seizure is a symbol of cordial working relationship with sister agencies and also depict that the security agencies have no overlapping functions in the discharge of our statutory responsibilities.
“The Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all the Seizures under review is One Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Nine Naira and Four Kobo(#1,265,830,809.04) only.
Ag. Compt. Ochiba noted that the seizures were made at various outstations of Ere and Akere of Idiroko, Badagry, Yekeme and sea from July to date.
He further stated that the action of the operatives is in line. with the Provisions of Section 149 (Powers to search vehicles/ships and Section 158 (Power to Patrol Freely) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.
The Ag. Compt later handed the hard and expired drugs and the only suspect over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who was led by the Commander, Apapa Special Area Command of the agency Mr. Samuel Bashir Gadzama who in turn commended the performance of the WMC and the NCS for their cooperation and assistance to the General Buba Marwa led administration of NDLEA's fight against the use of hard drug and insecurity in the country as these hard drugs If they had found their ways into the Nigerian society would have helped to increase the level of insecurity and banditry in the country.