Customs Hands Over 1,153 Parcels of Seized Marijuana To NDLEA in Kwara

By Kayode Abdul

The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara State Command on Thursday handed over 1,153 parcels of seized Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as ‘Marijuana’ to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state.

The Kwara Area Controller of Customs, Faith Matthew Ojeifo, explained that the handover was to enhance interagency collaboration in line with the policy direction of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

Ojeifo revealed that customs officers intercepted the contraband items hidden in a Daf truck along the Yamboa Axis of Bukuro, under the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara state.

“Our operatives along Yamboa Axis of Bukuro, under Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara state, on Wednesday,3rd July, 2024, at about 1700hrs, intercepted one Daf truck with registration number T-25750-LA suspected to be conveying prohibited items.

The Drug hidden in the Daf Truck

“While the search was ongoing, the driver, realizing that the eagle eyes of our officers have discovered that there was concealment, abandoned the truck and fled into the bush to evade arrest; this action on the part of the driver triggered the interest of our operatives.

 “In line with Section 226 a&b of Customs Service Act, 2023, the Daf truck was immediately transferred to Command Headquarters, Ilorin. After 100% physical examination, the wonder truck was found to conceal One Thousand One Hundred and fifty three (1,153) parcel of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) hidden in fabricated compartments and other component of the vehicle.”

Kwara Area Controller of Customs, Faith Matthew Ojeifo handing over the seized drug to NDLEA Commandant in the State, Ayoola Popoola Fatimoh at the Customs Area Command Office in Ilorin on 28/8/2024.

He added that “the vehicle will be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in accordance with the provision of Section 250 of Customs Service Act, 2023, which says any ship, aircraft, vehicle or any means of conveyance found to have been gagged in or adapted in any manner for the purpose of concealing goods shall be forfeited.”

He added that the command also seized 110 kegs of PMS worth 2,750 liters with duty paid value of Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N550,000).

“It might interest you to know that between June and July 2024, the command has generated and remitted the sum of Three Billion Three Hundred and Seventy one Million Eight Hundred and Sixty Six thousand Nine Hundred and eighteen Naira Eighty Eight Kobo N3, 371, 866,918.88 to federation account which brought the total amount generated from January-July, 2024 (since I  assumed duty) to Thirteen Billion Three Hundred and Ninety Eight Million Four Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand Six Hundred and Thirteen Naira Fifty One KoboN13,398,447,613.51.”

Receiving the intercepted drugs, Kwara State Commandant of NDLEA, Ayoola Popoola Fatimoh lauded the Customs Service and pledged the cooperation of the antidrug agency to apprehend the people behind the seized drugs.