Tincan Customs Command Intercepts Arms, Hard Drugs Worth N4.3bn From South Africa, Canada

By Chinonye Anyatonwu

The Tincan Island Customs command, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has declared that the command made huge seizures of arms, ammunitions and hard drugs worth #4.279VN which was smuggled from South Africa and Canada. Disclosing this at a press conference held at Tin Can Island customs command Apapa Lagos on Thursday, the Compteoller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR said the seizures were as a result of their officers concerted efforts to prevent illegal entry of such illicit and dangerous items into the country through diverse routes and means of conveyance. The CGC also noted that the interception operations have exposed trend of criminal networks which have engaged in collaborative attempts to rubbish and subvert the efforts of the customs in mitigating the entry of such illicit substances. According to the CGC, “Our actions underscore the persistent challenges posed by sophisticated smuggling networks, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced cooperation and advanced strategies to fortify the nation’s borders and preserve the safety and security of its citizens”. He also attributed the successful interception and seizure to the command’s collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). According to him, recognising the threats and the collaborative nature of criminal activities, the NCS has prioritised strategic partnerships with stakeholders over the past seven months. “Disrupting the link between illicit drugs, criminal activities, and access to arms and ammunition stands as a critical strategy in reducing overall crime rates. “The interception and seizure of illicit substances, along with stringent control measures over the circulation of arms, are integral components of an effective crime prevention strategy. “This approach aligns with the broader goal of enhancing public safety and underscores the NCS’s commitment to dismantling the foundations that sustain criminal enterprises, fostering a more secure environment for our citizens,” he said.

Breakdown of the seized items are: 65 packets of Colarado Indica weighing 32.5kg seized from 1X40FT Container No. UACU 534833/6 imported from Canada. “Others are 17 packets weighing 16.690kg confirmed to be Cocaine, 151 packets Colarado Indica weighing 107 kg, one piece Gen2 Air soft pistol with serial No. 471908, empty magazine, 49 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition, 197 rounds of 9mm live ammunition. “Precursor chemicals for the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine, eight bags weighing 25kg tartaric acid, 100kegs of unspecified substances seized from 1x40ft Container No. MSCU 458177/0 imported from Durban South Africa. “40 packets weighing 39.7kg confirmed to be Cocaine, 1026 packets weighing 688.2kg confirmed to be Colarado Indica, two pistols without serial numbers, one pistol with SerialNo. AZYSRA6YSO12101181, three empty magazines, 275rounds of 5.5mm M16 Tavor live ammunition. “ Six rounds of 9mm blank ammunition seized from in 1x40ft container No. THRU 796807/1imported from Durban South Africa. “226 packets weighing 128kg confirmed to be Cannabis Indica seized from 1x40ft Container No.MEDU 785276/3 imported from Durban South Africa,” he said. Adeniyi noted that the individuals linked to these seizures had not been disclosed as investigations into the criminal network are still going on. “The NCS is committed to leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators involved in these illicit activities face the full consequences of the law. “NCS and NDLEA remain steadfast in their commitment to enhancing ongoing collaborations aimed at eradicating criminal elements from society. We will persist in extending intelligence, network, and capabilities both nationally and internationally. The Chairman of NDLEA, Rt. Brig.Gen Mohammed Marwa, attributed the development to hard work of security agencies tasked with securing the nation’s territory. Marwa who was represented by Mr Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Spokesperson, added that the seizure was a testament that the sea ports were also secured. “ I express my appreciation to the leadership, men and officers of the NCS for the collaboration between the service and the NDLEA, not only at TinCan Island Port here but across all areas of our respective responsibilities. “I appreciate their steadfastness since the intelligence was received weeks ago from our international partners on the containers from which these drugs were recovered as they departed the port of loading, the command and other units had diligently tracked the movement of the containers up to the time of their landing in our port". He stated that NDLEA never hesitated to share intelligence with the TinCan Island Command also requested that the command ensure the containers were pinned down for 100 per cent examination.

NDLEA spokesperson said the synergy between Customs and NDLEA would close other loopholes that criminal elements had capitalised on in the past to smuggle illicit items into the country Moving forward, we remain dedicated to enhancing collaborations, both nationally and internationally, to eliminate criminal elements and foster a safer society.