Customs seize ₦2.35bn worth of cocaine, 8,794 bags of rice in S/West

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, has intercepted cocaine valued at ₦2.35 billion and seized 8,794 bags of smuggled rice across the South-West.

Comptroller Gambo Aliyu announced the breakthrough during a press briefing in Lagos, noting that the unit foiled 473 smuggling attempts within eight weeks.

Other seized items included 22 vehicles, 31,705 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS), and various poultry products. Notably, one of the recovered vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz, was valued at ₦119 million.

In a major blow to drug trafficking, operatives seized 6.35kg of cocaine along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor. Additionally, Operation Hawk led to the recovery of 1,540kg of synthetic cannabis, commonly known as Ghanaian Loud.

The unit recovered ₦97.7 million from under-declared consignments during this period. Three suspects were arrested and have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further prosecution.