THE Western Marine Command (WMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N582.2 million within five months.
The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, disclosed this on Thursday during a news conference and the decoration of 36 newly promoted officers at the WMC headquarters in Lagos.
Ntadi, who assumed office on April 1, said the seizures were made on waterways across the South-West.
He listed the items seized to include 1,827 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 47 kegs of 50-litre petrol, 170 sacks of ammonium sulphate, 86 polypropylene sacks, and 17 sacks of cannabis sativa. Others were 1,312 loaves of cannabis (“Arizona Loud”), 80 loaves of “Scottish Loud,” 106 loaves of “Ghana Loud,” engines, locally made fibre boats, and wooden boats.
“We also recovered N1.9 million from auctioning the intercepted petrol.
“These seizures represent significant steps in protecting our economy, safeguarding public health, and deterring illicit trade,” Ntadi said.
The comptroller commended his officers for their dedication to curbing smuggling and noted that the command had undergone massive infrastructural upgrades in the past five months.
These include a renovated command entrance, new security posts, an enlarged jetty, and refurbished outstations at Ere and Bar Beach.
Renovation of Igbokoda station in Ondo State, he added, would start on Sept. 22.
Ntadi also highlighted improvements in fleet and welfare, including the repair of four patrol boats, refurbishment of two vehicles, new crew facilities, and better welfare amenities for officers.
While receiving the seized cannabis, the Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Wakawa, said the intercepted substances were adulterated and genetically modified.
He lauded the collaboration between Customs and the NDLEA and urged smugglers to desist from the trade.
Ntadi expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, and stakeholders for their support, saying the command was now better positioned to protect Nigeria’s waterways.
