The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, recently addressed the media in Lagos regarding significant seizures of illicit drugs, including cannabis indica, prohibited codeine, and other narcotics originating from Canada and India. Adeniyi disclosed that these intercepted drugs were collectively valued at ₦4 billion.
The seizures, conducted by the Tin Can Island Port Command, included 172kg of cannabis indica concealed in three plastic drums, alongside 46 bags of the same substance, 877 bottles of codeine syrup, and 82 cartons of various other illicit drugs. These substances were discovered in two separate 40ft containers, highlighting the extensive efforts of the Customs Intelligence Unit.
Adeniyi emphasized the seriousness of these interceptions, underscoring the dangers posed by drug trafficking to national security and the economy. He condemned the involvement of certain port operators and customs officers suspected of aiding illegal drug imports, pledging severe sanctions against any implicated personnel within the NCS.
Furthermore, Adeniyi commended the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, and his team for their dedication and diligence in executing these seizures. He reiterated the NCS’s commitment to preventing the infiltration of harmful substances into Nigerian communities, stressing the collaborative efforts with agencies like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to achieve these goals.
In conclusion, Adeniyi reaffirmed the NCS’s role in safeguarding society from the detrimental effects of illicit drugs, highlighting their detrimental impact on youths and their potential use in financing disruptions by non-state actors. He expressed the Federal Government’s resolve, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, to stabilize the economy and foster an environment conducive to national prosperity.