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By Correspondent.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has intercepted 10,126 parcels of Cannabis sativa valued at N743.4 million in different parts of Ogun State, in what officials described as a major breakthrough against drug trafficking.
The Area Comptroller of the command, Mr. Olukayode Afeni, disclosed this on Tuesday during the handover of the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Idiroko.
Afeni handed over the illicit substances to the Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Area Command, Mr. Williams Ekundayo, during a brief ceremony attended by security officials and stakeholders.
Speaking during the handover, the customs boss described Cannabis sativa, popularly known as marijuana, as a dangerous psychoactive substance capable of causing serious health and social problems.
According to him, the interception was not merely a routine seizure but a deliberate preventive action aimed at protecting society from the destructive effects of drug abuse.
He warned that if the drugs had found their way into circulation, they could have triggered increased criminal activities, health complications and pressure on rehabilitation centres across the country.
“This is not just a seizure; it is a preventive measure. Without this intervention, our society would have faced a wave of drug-related crises and our already overstretched healthcare and rehabilitation system would have come under more pressure,” Afeni said.
The comptroller added that the availability of the drugs would have worsened drug-related health challenges and further strained psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities.
Receiving the exhibits, Ekundayo described the seizure as another major milestone in the ongoing fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse in the country.
He commended the customs officers involved in the operation for their vigilance and professionalism, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between the NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The NDLEA commander also issued a stern warning to individuals involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities to abandon the trade or face the full wrath of the law.
“If they persist in this nefarious business, they will surely be arrested by law enforcement agencies,” he assured.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
