Yuletide: Customs warn drug traffickers, seize cocaine

The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, said it has uncovered cocaine weighing 25.5kg onboard a Brazilian ship, MV San Anthonio.

This was contained in a statement on Saturday by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Isah Suleiman.

According to the statement, the illicit drugs, packaged in 24 parcels/slabs, were hidden in five bags found aboard the ship during the Customs intelligence-led checks that have resulted in the detention of the ship.

The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Emmanuel Oshoba, while lauding the discovery, described it as a fallout of the robust synergy between the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

According to Oshoba, the Customs intelligence discovered that upon her departure from Brazil, which is the ship’s country of origin, “The ship had called at ports in Honduras, Guatemala and other places suspected to be hubs for illicit drug trade.”

Oshoba reiterated the service’s resolve in ensuring only legitimate trade thrives in the port of Apapa in Lagos, following a zero-compromise directive by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

While handing over the seized drugs to the NDLEA for further action, he also announced the detention of the vessel that came into Nigeria with the cocaine.

What has happened today is the outcome of profiling and intelligence-led operations by the NCS and NDLEA. Our resolve to prevent unlawful trade is refreshed daily following the directives of the CGC.

This seizure and detention of the ship should send a strong message of warning that should resonate in the camp of perpetrators of unlawful trade within our port system. Customs is strengthening its synergy with all sister government agencies, and no criminal or group of lawless persons can beat us here,” he said.

The Apapa CAC maintained that as the Yuletide season approaches, the command will not sacrifice national security.

“As we approach the Yuletide season, we will not sacrifice national security and economy on the altar of trade facilitation. All consignments exiting this port into our markets or warehouses must be duly examined with the contents ascertained to be what was declared,” the CAC said.

At a brief handover ceremony in the port, the NDLEA was represented by Haliru Umar, Commander, Apapa Strategic Command, who formally took over the seizure from Customs.