By Felix Joseph ,Outlook Media ABUJA.
HANDING OVER OF SEIZED 8,240 PARCELS OF CANNBIS SATIVA (MARIJUANA), 23,000 CAPSULES OF 100MG OF TRAMADOL TO NDLEA HELD AT WESTERN MARINE COMMAND HQ IBAFON APAPA LAGOS ON THURSDAY 7TH SEPT.2023
PROTOCOL
Gentle Men of the press
- I am extremely pleased to welcome you to Western Marine Command, the foremost Marine formation of Nigeria Customs Service, the reason for our briefing today is to keep the media and general public abreast of our latest effort to puncture the evil ranks of Smuggling and illicit trade of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) along our coastal waters and also to handover 103 sacks containing 8,240 loaves of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) and 23,000 Capsules of 100mg of Tramadol to NDLEA for further agency action.
- On Thursday 3rd August 2023, at about 0400hrs the Command upon a follow-up on one of its numerous lead, received credible intelligence, that a crime was about to be committed, information reached the Command that an attempt will be made to smuggle a large shipment of Cannabis Sativa into the Country through our western waterways from a neighboring Country.
- The Command immediately assembled a joint patrol Team of Marine patrol Officers and set out towards the Ibeju Lekki Deep Sea costal water where they intercepted and arrested one wooden Boat with Two (2) Yamaha outboard Engines (40hp each) loaded with 103 Sacks of substances immediately suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana)
- The smugglers upon sighting our patrol Team dived into the water and abandoned their Boat with all the items in it which was immediately brought to Western Marine Command Headquarters Ibafon APAPA and found to contain 8,240 parcels (loaves) of Cannabis Sativa having a total weight of 3,811 kg.
- Duty paid value of the cannabis sativa stands at N692,160,000 (Six Hundred and Ninety Two Million, One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira Only) with a total weight of 3,811 kilograms while the duty paid value of the means of conveyance and two Yamaha outboard engines of 40 horse power each stands at N7,350,000 (Seven Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only). These give a combined duty paid value of N699,510,000 (Six Hundred And Ninety Nine Million, Five Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira Only) for the entire seizure.
- The inordinate quest by citizens to get rich by any means necessary fuels the menace of smuggling, citizens must understand that smuggling is injurious to our economy and smuggling of hard drugs has even more devastating effect on our health and the economy.
- Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service while facilitating Trade continue to stand as the frontier along our waterways to guard the Nation under very strenuous and challenging circumstances against illicit and illegal trade that brings injuries to our economy and health.
- While appreciating the media and the general public for their patriotic and nationalistic reportage, I wish to remind you that we must partner together to rid our Nation of unhealthy and dangerous trade practices that have the potential to bring us down as people.
- Profound appreciation goes to the CGC and his Management Team who have given the Command the needed motivation and impetus to go after smugglers, performing our statutory responsibilities and we pledge our loyalty to the NCS Management and to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
COMPT. OA SALEFU
Customs Area Controller
Western Marine command
Lagos
