Ilorin, Nigeria—The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has announced the interception of 1,153 parcels of marijuana, valued at N57.6 million, during an operation in July 2024. The contraband was seized on July 3rd along the Yamboa Axis of Bukuro, in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
This was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Faith Ojeifo, in a statement on Wednesday, which was signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Chado Zakari.
Ojeifo explained that the marijuana was discovered in a DAF truck with registration number T-25750-LA, which had been flagged by customs officers for a search under the provisions of Section 6 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. The truck had been modified with fabricated compartments to conceal the illegal substance.
“Our operatives along Yamboa Axis of Bukuro, under Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at about 1700hrs, intercepted one DAF truck with registration number T-25750-LA suspected to be conveying prohibited items,” Ojeifo stated. She added that the driver of the truck fled into the bush, abandoning the vehicle and raising the suspicions of the customs officers.
Following a 100% physical examination of the truck at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin, the officers discovered the hidden marijuana. The truck itself, valued at N21.5 million, will be forfeited to the Federal Government in accordance with Section 250 of the Customs Service Act, 2023.
In addition to the marijuana seizure, the command reported that between January and June 2024, it collected N13.3 billion in revenue. Within the same period, it seized 110 kegs, equivalent to 2,750 liters of petrol, valued at N550,000. The total value of seized items for the period was N42.7 million.
Ojeifo emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by the NCS, particularly the smuggling of petrol despite current fuel scarcity. “Despite the current fuel scarcity, some unpatriotic Nigerians still attempt to smuggle the product out of the country through the borders,” she lamented.
The seized drugs were handed over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as part of the NCS’s efforts to foster interagency collaboration. Ojeifo reiterated the command’s commitment to combating smuggling across the state and nation, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation with relevant agencies to enhance border security and enforce the law.
The Kwara Area Command remains vigilant in its efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders and prevent the illegal importation of contraband, reinforcing its role as a critical component of the nation’s security architecture.
