The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi on Monday paraded two suspects who were arrested in connection with the interception of 2,940 parcels of Cannabis Sativa.
The substance was intercepted on Monday in a predawn operation by operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of NCS Zone A at about 03:15am around Sokoto/ijoun road in Yewa North Local government Area of Ogun State
Adeniyi said the two suspects of the nefarious act used ingenious means to bring Cannabis Sativa into the country by concealing the harmful substance with heap of pineapple fruits loaded in
an unregistered white fiat bus with chassis number 2FA23000006141966.
He identified the suspects as Mr. Akeem olatunde –a driver and Mr. Abdul Nurudeen Adedeji – a passenger, stressing that they have been taken into custody pending further investigation.
Adenjyi who was in the state for the first official visit to NCS Command 2, had earlier same Monday met with some stakeholders, particularly representatives Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) where he assured them of the readiness of the NCS to provide the needed ambience for investors and their businesses to thrive. He revealed that five days earlier the Western Marine Command of the Service intercepted a total of N650million worth Indian Hemp weighing 11,539kg.
He explained that the substance was brought in a boat at the creeks around Ajah and Ijebu-ode area while three suspects and the items have been handed over to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) on August 2, 2023 for further investigations.
“We are pleased to announce the recent efforts and unwavering commitment of our officers in intercepting cannabis sativa within the NCS Zone
A operations. Specifically, by officers in FOU command, the western marine
command and the Sector 2 border drill operatives.
“Details of the seizures include:.Officers of FOU Zone A madeseizures of 14,015 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighting 7,728 Kg with, translating to a Duty Paid Value of NGN618,240,000 discharged from a boat at the creeks around Ajah and Ijebu-ode area. A total of 3 suspects and the items, were handed over to NDLEA on 2 August 2023 and are currently undergoing investigations.
“On Thursday 3 August 2023, at about 0400hrs, a joint patrol team of
officers intercepted a wooden boat with 2 Yamaha outboard engines (40
Horsepower) each containing 103 sacks containing 8,240 loaves of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, weighting 3,811KG at a DPV
of NGN 32,193,000,” Adeniyi said.
Speaking during a meeting with stakeholders – representatives of MAN, Ogun State, the NCS CG Adeniyi advised them to articulate the challenges and grievances hampering the smooth operation of their businesses in Nigeria and forward to the government directly or through his office.
Adeniyi who was apparently responding to the complaints of the investors bordering on multiple taxations, dearth of foreign exchange, floating exchange policy, deplorable state of roads within the industrial hubs and Free Trade Zones((FTZ) in Ogun State among others, declared that NCS would be happier to see each of them operate at full installed capacity.
Emphasizing that the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not interested in taxing them out of existence, Adeniyi however expressed the optimism that Nigeria now has a “listening and responsive government.”
.
