Customs seizes N37.8m Indian hemp, drugs, arrest suspect in Kebbi

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi State Area Command, has intercepted 104 parcels of Indian hemp, 359 sacks of diazepam and 70 packs of tramadol. Suleiman Yusuf popularly known as Babangida was named during the operation.

The area controller, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, disclosed this while handing over the seized items to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.

In his words: “On June 11, 3023, based on a tip-off from well-meaning citizens about a vehicle conveying offensive goods into the country, the Command’s officers swung into action.

“At about 10.a.m. through stop and search along Kamba-Kyangakwai road, the men were able to identify the vehicle suspected to be carrying the illegal concealment.

“After thorough search and examination, 104 parcels (laptop size of 1kg each) of cannabis sativa and 99 (5mg) diazepam tablets were found concealed in the vehicle driven by a middle-aged man, Sulaiman Yusuf,” he said.

Dr. Oramalugo also revealed that 70 packs of tramadol 225mg and 260 diazepam tablets 5mg, were found by the patrol team on June 5, 2023 abandoned along a footpath in Kamba-Rijiyar Maikafi bush.

The Command handed over the seized items valued at N37.8 million and the suspect to the NDLEA, Kebbi command, for further action.

He also said that the command had seized various smuggled items in the last four weeks in the state.

He revealed that the contraband included 107 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 38 bales of second-hand clothing, 1,275 litres of PMS, 52 jerrycans of vegetable oil, one Honda Accord 2014 and a used Opel vehicle, among others.

According to him, the duty-paid value of the seized items is N64.6 million.

Dr. Oramalugo reiterated the Command’s commitment to zero tolerance for smuggling.

While receiving the drugs, the NDLEA commander in Kebbi, Sulaiman Usman, thanked the NCS for its efforts and collaboration with the agency.

“This is the manifestation of the inter-agency collaborative efforts between the chief executive of NDLEA and NCS in order to stamp out the menace of drug abuse in our society.”