By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over large quantity of weeds suspected to be Cannabis Sativa intercepted by its operatives, to the state command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The contraband, which Duty Payable Value (DPV) worth N102, 848, 768, was subjected to a test before journalists by the NDLEA, using the United Nation’s testing kits to ascertain its originality.
The items included 319 sacks (raw), 476 units, wrapped in book size, as well as 96 other units, wrapped in coconut size and were all handed over to the State Commander of the narcotics agency, Ishaku Yusuf Kwajafa.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony held at the Service’s premises in Abeokuta, the Customs Controller for Ogun Area 1 Command, Comptroller Makinde Bamidele said, the handing over was done in respect for each agency’s statutory functions, as well as to further strengthen the synergy between NCS and the NDLEA.
Makinde explained that handing over of the seizure, was approved by the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ahmed Ali.
His words, “In line with respect for each agency’s statutory functions and in order to further strengthen the synergy between the NCS and NDLEA, the Ogun I Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service with the approval of Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) hands over intercepted Cannabis Sativa of three hundred and nineteen (319) sacks (raw), four hundred and seventy six wraps (book size) and ninety six (96) wraps (coconut size) with the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of one hundred and two million, eight hundred and forty eight thousand, seven hundred and sixty eight Naira (N102,848,768.00) to NDLEA, Ogun State Command, Abeokuta, Ogun State.”
Responding after taking possession of the Cannabis Sativa, the NDLEA Commander in Ogun, Kwajafa, who appreciated the seizure, said without the assistance of the NCS’ operatives, Ogun State would have been witnessing “serious crisis” if the contraband found its way into the society.
While commending the Ogun command of NCS, Kwajafa said NDLEA would continue to value the existing cooperation between the two agencies so as to spur the Customs to do more.