Tin Can Area Customs Command Intercepts 684 Packets of Cannabis Indica Worth Over N682 Million
The Tin Can Island Port Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized three containers containing illicit drugs at the Tin Can Island Port.
In a press briefing, the Customs Area Controller, Dera Nnadi, announced the interception of 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 341.025 kg.
Nnadi said the street value of the drugs is estimated at N682,050,000.
The seizure, made possible through actionable intelligence, underscores the ongoing collaboration between the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The intercepted containers are part of broader efforts to crack down on the illegal importation of dangerous drugs into the country.
Nnadi disclosed that a joint 100% physical examination of the three containers revealed the illicit contents, which are now being handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
He elaborated on the details of the seizures:
– Container MSMU 518030/2 (1x40ft): Examination on 2 August 2024 revealed 77 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 38.5 kg. The consignment was declared as three used vehicles.
– Container MSMU 602957/0 (1x40ft): Examination on 8 August 2024 uncovered 532 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 265.025 kg. No declaration had been made for this consignment, and the shipping company is MSC.
– Container FSCU 927461/3 (1x40ft): Also examined on 8 August 2024, this container contained 75 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 37.5 kg. Similarly, no declaration was entered, and the consignment was associated with MSC.
Nnadi emphasised that the investigation is ongoing, with the NDLEA poised to provide further updates on the interdiction, arrests, and prosecution.
He reiterated the NCS’s commitment to working with other security and regulatory agencies to curb the illegal importation of dangerous substances.
“The Command and indeed the Service will deploy all necessary resources and strategies to check the menace of illegal importation,” Nnadi stated, thanking the media for their continued partnership in protecting Nigerian society from harmful imports.
The seizures reflect the growing success of interagency collaboration between the NCS and NDLEA, supported by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at safeguarding the country from illicit drugs.
