The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, has seized contraband goods, including cannabis sativa, bags of foreign rice, and other prohibited items valued at N352 million, within the Badagry waterways and surrounding areas over a two-month period.

Customs Area Controller of the command, Patrick Ntadi, disclosed this yesterday at the command’s Lagos office while handing over some of the confiscated hard drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Ntadi revealed that 2,017 bags of foreign rice valued at N212 million and 481 loaves of cannabis sativa worth N50 million were among the intercepted items. Other seized contraband included seven sacks of 50kg sugar valued at N672,000, 72 rolls of foreign plain materials worth N71 million, and nine boats valued at N17.5 million, all with a total duty paid value of N352 million.

“These seizures represent a significant blow to criminal networks involved in illicit trade and smuggling activities,” Ntadi said, adding that the command remains committed to protecting borders and fostering lawful trade.

He attributed the success to the motivation provided by the Controller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, alongside improved intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies. Ntadi highlighted the deployment of additional patrol vessels along the coastlines and inland waterways as a critical factor in the operation’s success.

“We remain vigilant and proactive, continually updating our strategies to counter evolving smuggling tactics,” he stated. Ntadi urged the public to report any suspicious smuggling activities and assured that the command would intensify its efforts to curb illicit trade.

Receiving the seized cannabis, the acting Commander of the Marine Command of NDLEA, Emmanuel Morrison, commended Customs for its collaboration. He reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to safeguarding communities from the dangers posed by the smuggling of hard drugs and other contraband.