N398m worth of cannabis sativa was seized by customs in Lagos.

 

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service seized 53 bags of cannabis sativa that weighed 1,958kg and had a duty-paid value of N398m in Lagos.

Lomba Benjamin, the Public Relations Officer of the command, revealed this in a statement on Friday, Feb. 21.

According to Paul Bamisaiye, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, the contraband was caught at Ilase Sea Beach, which is roughly 200 nautical miles from Lagos Anchorage.

According to him, the smugglers attempted to flee but were overpowered by the officers, so they left the boat and jumped into the sea.

“The boat was quickly secured and brought to the office where it was found to contain 3,793 loaves of cannabis sativa divided into 53 sacks and weighed 1,958kg. The duty paid value of the seizure is N398m,” he said.

He stressed that the contrabands, which were intercepted on Thursday, Feb. 20, at about 11pm, were a result of the intensified efforts by the ever-focused and eagle-eyed officers of the command.

According to him, the interception was the highest operational seizure of cannabis sativa under his administration.

According to Bamisaiye, the command seized 15 sacks of cannabis sativa worth N107m two months ago.

According to established procedures, the hard drugs will be handed over to the Nigerian Drug Enforcement Agency, as he added.

According to him, the command will continue to work with other sister agencies to ensure the nation's borders are well protected.