The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Port Command, has intercepted 11 rifles, 6 pistols alongside their ammunition and heroine, among others.
Addressing newsmen on the activities of the command within the period of January to March, on Friday, 15 March 2024, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, noted that the Command has recorded success in both revenue generation and its anti-smuggling drive.
He stated that the command has collected a total of N240,302,743,023.47 from the period of January 2024 to date.
“If you recall, our revenue target on a monthly basis is N94,000,000,000.00. What this means is that we have been able to surpass our expected revenue target of N188 billion for January and February,” he said.
On anti-smuggling, Comptroller Nnadi disclosed that the Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted Arms and Ammunition, as well as psychotropic substances.
He said, “In total, we seized 11 rifles and 6 pistols from different containers imported into the country at different times. We also seized psychotropic substances imported into the country but intercepted through collaborative work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“Based on this collaboration, several kilograms of Cannabis Indica have been seized. In recent times, we have also seized 23 packages containing 23 kilograms of Heroin concealed in a container, the identity of which we are still keeping secret due to ongoing investigations.”
The CAC emphasized that the command’s resolve to make the seizures is “to further support the efforts of the Federal Government to keep the nation safe. We are all aware that the conveyers of these products intend to use them for notorious activities that include support to insurgents, kidnapping activities and other vices that are inimical to the well-being and security of our nation.”
He later handed over the seized drugs to the representative of NDLEA.
Receiving the items, the NDLEA Commander, Narcotics, TCIP, Mohammed Aminu-Abubakar, commended the efforts of officers involved in the seizures while also emphasizing the need for collaboration between sister agencies to secure Nigeria’s borders.
“I think this is a warning sign for people who will continue to partake in this illicit trade across the nation. There are a lot of arrests being made at the airport in relation to this.
“We should be working together with all the security agencies to see that we safeguard our own borders. It’s a wake-up call for all security agencies working in the maritime industry to make sure that we play our part to ensure that these illicit drugs do not get into our country,” he stated.
He further called on clearing agents, who unknowingly collaborate with illicit drug traffickers by allowing their companies to be used by anonymous people, to do due diligence to know their customers.
