Western Marine Customs Battles Smugglers As Yuletide Approaches, Confiscates 15 Sacks of Cannabis Sativa
Western Marine Customs Battles Smugglers As Yuletide Approaches, Confiscates 15 Sacks of Cannabis Sativa
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Days to the Christmas celebrations, the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs is continuously demonstrating the readiness to give smugglers insistent on perpetrating illicit acts on the waterways a big run for their money. The smugglers either take to legitimate businesses or have their wares confiscated at their own peril if they insist on nefarious activities, taking advantage of the Yuletide holidays.
In furtherance of this anti-smuggling drive, the Western Marine Command, Monday, confiscated 15 sacks of cannabis sativa containing 1,021 loaves of the illicit substance.
As contained in a release by Superintendent of Customs Mailafiya Magaji, the Command’s image maker, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, the consignment intercepted along the
Ajido waterways in the Yekeme axis of the Command weighed 538 kg, with a duty paid value (DPV) of N207,205,000.00.
The consignment was intercepted at the waterfront when the suspected smugglers docked their boat to offload the illicit items onto the land.
“Upon sighting our vigilant Marine officers, the suspected smugglers abandoned the items and fled the scene. Despite the hostile environment, the Patrol Team successfully secured the sacks, transferred them into our official patrol boats, and transported the contraband to the Western Marine Command Headquarters for further investigation.”
The release appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) and his management team for massively supporting the fight against smuggling by providing critical resources and equipment to the Western Marine Command.
“This support has empowered the Command to achieve remarkable successes in ensuring that smugglers have no safe haven on our waterways, thereby creating a secure and thriving environment for
legitimate trade.”
The Western Marine Command, under Comptroller Paul
Bamisaiye, the release emphasized, is ever ready to ensure that the waterways remain
effectively secure from smuggling activities during the critical
festive period.
The Command is not unaware that some unpatriotic members of the
public usually attempt to take advantage of the Yuletide season to execute their nefarious acts of smuggling and, therefore, warns that strategies have been perfected for the coming holiday season to nip all such criminal acts in the bud.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to protecting the nation’s waterways and ensuring a safe environment for lawful trade and activities”, the release concluded.
