The Western Marine Command (WMC) of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) has reported a significant interception of illicit substances, seizing 48 sacks containing 4,070 parcels of Indian hemp in January.
According to a statement issued by Odaudu Salefu, the Comptroller of the WMC, the hard drugs were confiscated from a boat sailing through the waterways on January 19.
“A joint patrol team had on Jan. 19, at exactly 12.06 p.m. received credible intelligence of the movement of a wooden boat on the Moba seashore axis of the command and pursued the boat,” the statement reads.
Upon realizing they were being pursued, the suspects abandoned the boat, which was found to be fully loaded with goods upon inspection. Among the cargo were 4,070 parcels of Indian hemp weighing 1,785kg, concealed within 48 sacks.
Salefu further revealed that the wooden boat, equipped with two 40 horsepower engines, was towed back to the command’s headquarters at Ibafon Apapa for further investigation.
This seizure adds to the command’s record of intercepting significant amounts of Indian hemp. Salefu noted that the WMC has seized five major hauls of the illegal drugs, totaling 14,920 parcels, in various operations.
These interceptions contribute to the 48 incidents of confiscation recorded by the command in 2023 alone. The estimated duty-paid value of the seized illicit drugs is pegged at N1.5 billion
