The Nigeria Customs Service, Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has handed over 400kg of suspected cannabis valued at N2.26 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The acting customs area controller, Olufemi Kukoyi, disclosed this at a news conference at Lekki Deep Sea Port on Thursday.

Mr Kukoyi said the consignment was intercepted on August 19 following credible intelligence that prompted officers to detain a suspicious container.

He said the container, destined for a bonded terminal outside the command, was initially scanned before a comprehensive physical examination.

According to him, a joint examination involving officials of the NCS, NDLEA, State Security Service (SSS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) led to the discovery of seven pallets containing 400 packages of suspected cannabis.

He said the substance, weighing 400kg, was concealed with 798 reams of A4 printing paper to evade detection.

Mr Kukoyi said the report of the seizure was forwarded to Customs Headquarters, which approved the formal handover to the NDLEA for further investigation and necessary action.

He described the interception as a boost to public safety and national security, noting that drug trafficking threatened the well-being of youths and fuelled criminal activities.

The controller attributed the success to intelligence-led enforcement, modern technology, and collaboration among security agencies.

He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for promoting consolidation, collaboration, and innovation in the Service.

Mr Kukoyi warned criminal networks against using the ports for illicit activities, assuring that the command would sustain surveillance and enforcement.

Receiving the consignment, the commander of narcotics, NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command, Jonah Achema, said the seizure demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration.

Mr Achema said the interception, coming days after Kukoyi assumed office, underscored the agencies’ resolve to intensify the fight against drug trafficking.

He also cited a previous seizure of 46 tonnes of tramadol valued at N35 billion, saying the operations reflected the anti-drug campaign of the NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa.

Mr Marwa assured the customs and other agencies that the NDLEA would sustain intelligence-driven operations to prevent drug trafficking through Lekki Port.

(NAN)