Kehinde Fajobi
The Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has intercepted illicit drugs worth ₦117,587,405, including cannabis sativa and Tramaking tablets.
The contraband was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during a media briefing on Friday.
Comptroller James Ojo, the Controller of the Ogun Area 1 Command, described the rise in drug smuggling as “alarming and worrisome,” warning that it poses a serious threat to national security.
The seizures included:
5,256 coconut-size wraps of cannabis valued at ₦46,981,742
46 book-size wraps of cannabis valued at ₦411,179
1,202 bread-size wraps of cannabis valued at ₦10,744,302
403 sacks of cannabis valued at ₦16,010,182
In total, 7,217.7 kg of cannabis sativa and 362 packs of Tramaking tablets (225mg each) were confiscated at strategic hotspots, including Agbawo/Iganokoto in Yewa North and Imeko Afon Local Government Areas.
Ojo highlighted the Customs Command’s success in combating drug trafficking, noting that between January and November 21, 2024, several operations, driven by credible intelligence, resulted in significant seizures.
“For instance, between October 13 and November 12, 2024, our operatives intercepted a total of 1,373 parcels of cannabis sativa (weighing 1,337 kg) and 362 packs of Tramaking tablets (225mg each) abandoned at various locations, including the Abeokuta axis, Agbawo/Iganokoto, and the Imeko Afon axis,” Ojo said.
He commended his officers for their dedication and courage and issued a stern warning to drug traffickers to desist or face legal consequences.
Commander Olusegun Adeyeye of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, who received the contraband, applauded Customs for their steadfast efforts.
“This seizure is a testament to the synergy between the NDLEA and Customs in combating the menace of drug abuse and smuggling,” Adeyeye stated, stressing the importance of collaboration in safeguarding Nigerian families and communities.