Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ arrested six suspects and intercepted prohibited goods including cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine over four weeks.[1] Acting Comptroller Oladapo Afeni announced the results on Tuesday at his maiden press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, saying 195 interception operations produced the seizures.[1] Afeni said the seized narcotics and the suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.[1]
The cannabis seizure totalled 5,986 parcels weighing 3,407.83kg.[1] Officers also seized 400 grammes of cocaine and 100 grammes of methamphetamine alongside the cannabis.[1] Customs put the combined duty-paid value of all the prohibited goods at about N6.19 billion.[2] Other seized items included 23,220 new machetes, 1,250 rounds of 12-calibre cartridges, 21 foreign-used vehicles, second-hand clothing, used tyres, premium motor spirit and eight live pangolins.[2]
Afeni said the volume of cannabis was a grave concern because the drug poses serious threats to public health, particularly among young people.[1] He warned that the machetes, allegedly smuggled without the required certificates and permits, could be used to disrupt peaceful elections in the coming months.[1] He said the unit carried out the operations through intelligence gathering and sustained collaboration with the NDLEA, police, State Services, Immigration, Army, NAFDAC and other agencies.[1]
