IN LAGOS, CUSTOMS OFFICERS SEIZE CANNABIS WORTH N516 MILLION.

The Customs Strike Force, Team A, Ikeja, has announced the seizure of 5,124 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa along the coast of Lekki, Lagos.

Sani Yusuf, the Customs Comptroller in charge of the team, told journalists on Wednesday at the command that the contraband, with an estimated duty paid value of N516 million, was intercepted in January 2023 as a result of credible intelligence.

He went on to say that the contraband was being moved directly from the ship to trucks before his men arrived.

“The cannabis was intercepted as a result of credible intelligence. At midnight, we intercepted it somewhere along the coast near Lekki. When we arrived, we saw a large number of men loading contraband from the ship directly into the truck, despite the sea waves.

“When our officers arrived, they discovered that they had already loaded the first truck; they were loading the second and third trucks when we arrived, and there was pandemonium. We saw some other agencies when we arrived, but we don’t know who they were. “However, after many heated arguments, we were able to bring the truck down to our office, and the people who were loading the consignment fled,” Yusuf explained.

Yusuf stated that they were able to take one truck because it was already loaded, parked outside, and ready to be taken out before his men busted them.

“This truck was parked outside while they were loading the other two trucks; they had no idea we were coming. So they loaded the truck and parked it outside. So, when we arrived, while they were arguing, we decided it would be best if we took the ones who were watching, as well as for the safety of our officers. As a result, one of the officers drove the truck.”