The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday disclosed that it intercepted four containers laden with arms and ammunition alongside illicit drugs imported from South Africa and Canada into Tin- Can Island Port (TCIP).
Briefing journalists in Lagos, the Comptroller General of the Service, Adewale Adeniyi, said that Customs operatives at Tin-Can Island Command in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made the seizures.
Adeniyi noted that operatives of Tin Can Island Command reported a number of successfully executed multiple interceptions of illicit drugs, arms and ammunition at various locations, representing a concerted effort to prevent illegal entry into the country through diverse routes and means of conveyance.
According to him, the interceptions have brought to light a concerning trend wherein criminal networks engage in collaborative attempts to subvert the competency of the agencies tasked with mitigating the entry of such illicit substances.
While highlighting the number of items impounded, the Customs boss mentioned that “65 packets of Colarado Indica weighing 32.5kg seized from 1X40FT Container No. UACU 534833/6 imported from Canada.
“17 packets weighing 16.690kg confirmed to be Cocaine, 151 packets Colarado Indica weighing 107 kg, One (1) piece Gen2 Air soft pistol with serial No. 471908, empty magazine, 49 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition, 197 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, precursor chemicals for the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine, 8bags weighing 25kg tartaric acid, 100kegs of unspecified substances seized from 1x40ft Container No. MSCU 458177/0 imported from Durban South Africa.
“40packets weighing39.7kg confirmed to be Cocaine, 1026 packets weighing 688.2kg confirmed to be Colarado Indica, Two (2) pistols without serial numbers, one pistol with SerialNo. AZYSRA6YSO12101181, three (3) empty magazines, 275rounds of 5.5mm M16 Tavor live ammunition, six rounds of 9mm blank ammunition seized from in 1x40ft container No. THRU 796807/1imported from Durban South Africa.
Similarly, Adeniyi noted that the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Customs and NDLEA have consistently yielded positive results adding that the synergy exemplifies the effectiveness of pooling resources and intelligence, reinforcing the commitment of both agencies to safeguarding the nation’s borders and protecting its citizens from the threats posed by illegal substances.
In recognition of the threats and the collaborative nature of criminal activities, the Customs boss affirmed the steadfastly prioritized strategic partnerships with stakeholders over the past seven months of his administration noting that deliberate focus aims to harness the specialized expertise of the partnership in a manner that enhances capability to fulfil its core mandates.
“Just as criminals find strength in collaboration, government agencies must equally appreciate the advantages of working collectively to fulfil their statutory responsibilities.”
“The individuals linked to these seizures have not been disclosed as investigations into the criminal network are ongoing,” Adeniyi stated.
He further explained that the NCS is committed to leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators involved in these illicit activities face the full consequences of the law.
He also commended officers and men of the command for their immense contributions on the seized items but added that NCS and NDLEA remain steadfast in commitment to enhancing ongoing collaborations aimed at eradicating criminal elements from the society.
