Customs Hands Over Nearly 5,000 Loaves of Cannabis Sativa, Codeine Bottles to NDLEA, NAFDAC

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command has officially handed over significant seizures of illicit substances, including 4,973 loaves of Cannabis Sativa and 195 bottles of codeine syrup, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye highlighted the Command’s recent successes in combating the smuggling of illegal substances through the South-Western waterways.

He recalled that on Friday, 21 February, the Command had informed the press of the seizure of 53 sacks of Cannabis Sativa.

Further enforcement efforts led to another interception on Monday, 24 February, when a patrol team apprehended two suspects in the Badagry axis with 29 loaves of Cannabis Sativa concealed within a sack of rebagged rice.

“Today, we formally hand over 4,973 loaves of Cannabis Sativa, two suspects, and 195 bottles of 300ml codeine to NDLEA and NAFDAC, respectively, for further investigation and prosecution,” Bamisaiye stated. “These seizures reaffirm our commitment at the Western Marine Command to securing our waterways and stopping illicit trade.”

The Comptroller credited the success of these operations to the strong inter-agency collaboration between Customs, NDLEA, and NAFDAC. “No single agency can win this fight alone, and together, we are making a real impact,” he remarked.

He also expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs and the management team for equipping officers with the necessary resources and providing a conducive working environment to execute their duties effectively.

Addressing smugglers, Bamisaiye issued a stern warning: “Our message is clear – we are vigilant, we are resolute, and we will not relent.”