The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has intercepted 2,693 parcels of cannabis sativa with a total duty paid value (DPV) of 172,920,000 at the Ilaro area of the state.

The area comptroller, Godwin Otunla, disclosed this while handing over the drugs to Olaniyi Ekundayo, commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Area Command, at Idiroko on Thursday.

Mr Otunla explained that the operatives, during an intelligence-driven operation on June 29, at about 12.05 a.m., intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number EPE 595 LA in the Ilaro area of Ogun State.

He said the vehicle was driven by one Williams Asare, a 39-year-old Nigerian resident of Mobil, Challenge area, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“Upon initial examination, the truck was suspected to be conveying prohibited items. But further examination revealed that several parcels of cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana, had been ingeniously concealed within a fabricated compartment.

“A comprehensive examination was carried out after the truck was moved to the command, which showed a total of 2,693 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,450 kg inside the vehicle,” he said.

Mr Otunla said that the successful interception of these large quantities of illicit drugs was a significant step in preventing the circulation of these harmful substances in our communities.

The area comptroller handed over the seized cannabis and the suspect to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and necessary action.

In his response, Mr Ekundayo said the NDLEA would task over the seized items and the suspect to continue its investigation to unravel those behind the illicit drugs. 

(NAN)