The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, says it intercepted contraband goods valued at ₦352 million over a two-month period along the Badagry waterways and surrounding areas.

The Customs Area Controller, Patrick Ntadi, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos while transferring some of the seized cannabis to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to Ntadi, the seizures include 2,017 bags of foreign parboiled rice estimated at ₦212 million and 481 loaves of cannabis sativa valued at ₦50 million.

He also listed seven sacks of 50kg sugar worth ₦672,000, 72 rolls of foreign textile materials worth ₦71 million, and nine boats valued at ₦17.5 million among the intercepted items.

“These seizures have a combined duty paid value of ₦352 million,” Ntadi said.

He described the operation as a setback for smuggling networks operating along Nigeria’s waterways, noting that such activities threaten lawful trade and national security. He credited the successes to increased intelligence, cooperation with other security agencies, and the deployment of more patrol vessels.

“The support from the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has played a major role, particularly in enhancing operational capacity and inter-agency collaboration,” he said.

Ntadi added that the command is continuously adapting to counter emerging smuggling methods and reaffirmed its commitment to law enforcement and the protection of Nigeria’s borders.

Handing over the seized drugs, Ntadi said the Customs Service remains committed to inter-agency cooperation in addressing drug trafficking and related crimes. The cannabis was received by the Acting Commander of the NDLEA Marine Command, Emmanuel Morrison.

Ntadi urged residents to report suspicious activities on the waterways, stating, “Our collective efforts are essential in safeguarding our country’s economic integrity and social order.”