Customs Hands Over 15,000kg of Seized Illicit Substances to NDLEA

In a blow to drug cartels operating within the nation’s coastal waters and land borders, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over hard substances, suspected to be Cannabis Sativa and Tramadol, to the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The handover ceremony occurred at the Customs Warehouse in Karu, Abuja over the weekend.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, said the illicit substances were seized in operations conducted by the Western Marine Command, FOU Zone ‘A,’ and Zone ‘B’ formations.

Notable contributors to the effort included the Ogun 1 Area Command and Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C.’

He detailed the seized items, including 13,567 parcels of Cannabis Sativa from Zone ‘A,’ 1,511 parcels and 292 bags of Indian Hemp from Zone ‘B,’ and 3,213 parcels and blocks, along with 935 sacks of Cannabis Sativa from Zone ‘C’.

From Ogun I Command, 2,223 wraps and 144 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, weighing a total of 3,312.7kg, were seized. Additionally, the Western Marine Command contributed 2,205 parcels weighing 624kg.

The Director of Narcotics, NDLEA, Samuel Gazama, who represented the Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, commended the Customs for its pivotal role in cleansing the country of illicit drugs.

She explained that although the federation account is maintained and operated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, all the states and relevant federal agencies are duly represented in all the institutions that are responsible for the administration and disbursement of the federation account.