LAGOS – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its efforts to combat human and drug trafficking, targeting smugglers and illegal immigrants in Idi-Iroko, Imeko, and other parts of Ogun State.
Speaking to reporters in Lagos, Mohammed Shuaibu, coordinator of the Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 2, South-West Zone, revealed that the team seized 674kg of Cannabis Sativa, arrested 34 illegal immigrants, and apprehended two suspected smugglers.
Shuaibu emphasised that the operation reflects the team’s commitment to safeguarding society and protecting Nigerians from criminal activities.
He warned about the dangers posed by such a large quantity of drugs, noting the links between illicit substances and organized crime, violence, kidnapping, and public health crises.
He said: “In our steadfast commitment to combating smuggling activities, we were protecting Nigeria’s economy and ensuring national security. We intensified patrols, sustained surveillance activities and enhanced intelligence gathering within the border corridors, which disrupted smuggling networks.
While acting on the core mandate of the Joint Border Patrol Team, which is to combat smuggling and illegal migration; Shuaibu said: “These two criminal activities are capable of undermining our economic growth, fueling insecurity, and exploiting vulnerable citizens.
Shuaibu said, it was in furtherance to the Federal Government’s intolerable stand against these illegal activities,that the team, seized 816 Bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 802 Jerry cans containing premium motor spirit (25 Litres each), 285 Bales of used clothes and 61 Jumbo sacks of used shoes
Other items seized by the officers of the Sector include 674kg of Cannabis Sativa, and eight units of used vehicles.
“The duty paid value of all the seizures recorded by the team within the last four weeks is N556,431,200 while N8,020,000 was paid into the federation account from the auction of petroleum products which could not be warehoused due to its flammable nature. Two spects were arrested connection with some of the seized items,” he said.
The narcotics were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials at the venue of the briefing for further investigation and necessary actions.
