NCS seizes N4.3bn cocaine, arms from South Africa, Canada

By Tayo ABIOLA

Hard drugs worth N4.3 billion smuggled from South Africa and Canada have been intercepted by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Tincan Island Command.

The Comptroller General of Customs, CAC, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in a media conference on Thursday in Lagos.

Adeniyi said that the seized 56.39kg cocaine was worth N2.4 billion, while the 955kg of Colorado Indica (marijuana) was valued at N1.9 billion, adding that the Command also intercepted five pistols, 445 rounds of live ammunition and several empty pistol magazines.

Adeniyi listed the seized items as 65 packets of Colarado Indica, weighing 32.5kg seized from 1X40FT container No. UACU 534833/6 imported from Canada.

“Others are 17 packets weighing 16.690kg confirmed to be cocaine, 151 packets Colarado Indica weighing 107 kg. Also, one piece Gen2 Air soft pistol with serial No. 471908, empty magazine, 49 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition and 197 rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

“Also recovered were precursor chemicals for the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine, eight bags weighing 25kg tartaric acid, 100 kegs of unspecified substances seized from 1x40ft Container No. MSCU 458177/0 imported from Durban South Africa.

“40 packets weighing 39.7kg confirmed to be Cocaine, 1,026 packets weighing 688.2kg confirmed to be Colarado Indica. Two pistols without serial numbers, one pistol with Serial No. AZYSRA6YSO12101181, three empty magazines, 275 rounds of 5.5mm M16 Tavor live ammunition.

“Six rounds of 9mm blank ammunition seized from in 1x40ft container No. THRU 796807/1 and imported from Durban South Africa.

“226 packets weighing 128kg confirmed to be Cannabis Indica seized from 1x40ft Container No. MEDU 785276/3 imported from Durban South Africa,” the Custom boss said.