The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Kaduna, has intercepted 185 blocks of Cannabis Sativa valued at N48.5 million, the service announced on Thursday.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, Chief Superintendent of Customs Saidu Nuruddeen, Public Relations Officer of the unit, said the seizure, along with other contraband worth N220.4 million recovered in separate operations, took place on August 21 at about 3:30 a.m.
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“Acting on intelligence, operatives stopped a vehicle along the Zaria flyover on the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway, and intercepted the contraband,” Nuruddeen said.
He added that a male suspect was arrested after nine sacks containing 185 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 89.6kg, were discovered in the vehicle.
“The seized substance has an estimated Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N48,562,500. Both the suspect and the exhibits have been handed over to operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution in line with the spirit of inter-agency collaboration,” he stated.
Nuruddeen also revealed that in a separate operation, the unit intercepted three vehicles carrying smuggled items, including 456 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 8,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 178 bales of second-hand clothes, 225 cartons of spaghetti, 107 used tyres, and 37 electric shockers (tasers). He said the total duty paid value of these goods stood at N220,457,336.48.
The Comptroller of the unit, Mr. Aliyu Alkali, commended the continuous support and guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and reiterated the commitment of the unit to combat smuggling, illegal trade, and the inflow of uncustomed goods.
He stressed that the seizures form part of ongoing efforts “to protect the nation’s economy and safeguard national security.”
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