Western Marine Customs intercepts contrabands worth over N1.4 billion in three months

Segun Oladipupo.    |.

The Western Marine Command WMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) within the first quarter of 2021 intercepted contrabands worth over N1.4 billion

The Controller of the command, Comptroller Olugbenga Peters stated this in Friday during a media conference with some journalists at the command headquarters

Most recent among the seizure was the 147 sacks of Marijuana with an average of 45Kg per sack, giving an estimated total of 6,615Kg.

The total  Duty paid value (DPV) of the Marijuana is Six Hundred and Ninety Four Million Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira (₦694, 575,000.00) only.

Six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure which was made on Saturday 27th March, 2021 by the operatives of Coastal and Harbour Patrol (Bar-Beach) on credible intelligence along Ibeche Beach on the high sea.

The Customs boss added that the goods together with the suspects were brought to the  command and  upon physical counting, it was found to be 147 sacks of Marijuana with an average of 45Kg per sack, giving an estimated total of 6,615Kg.

“The total  DPV of the Marijuana is Six Hundred and Ninety Four Million Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira (₦694, 575,000.00) only.

“The Western Marine Command has had several collaborations with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Director Seaport Operations and it is in view of continuous synergy and its statutory responsibility that we are handing over the marijuana together with the Six (6) suspects to the representative of NDLEA in the interest of National Security.”

Recall that the operatives of the Command made a massive seizure of over 10 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) valued at over a billion Naira in 2020.

The seizure was said to be the highest single seizure of Cannabis in the history of the service.

Speaking further, Comptroller Peters said the Command had in the 1st quarter of 2021, made a total of 12 Seizures ranging from Rice, marijuana, Second hand clothing and PMS with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Seven Hundred and Twenty Million, Five Hundred and Forty One Thousand Naira (₦720, 541,000.00) only.