The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it intercepted 53 sacks of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) worth N398 million.
The Spokesman for the command, Lomba Benjamin, said in a statement on Friday that the Command Area Controller, Paul Bamisaiye, said that the contraband was intercepted at Ilase Sea Beach close to Lagos.
The Command Area Controller said the smugglers abandoned their boat and jumped into the sea on sighting the customer officers.
“The boat was quickly secured and brought to the office where it was found to contain 3,793 loaves of cannabis sativa divided into 53 sacks and weighed 1,958kg.
“The duty paid value of the seizure is N398m,” he said.
According to Mr. Bamisaiye, the command had earlier seized 15 sacks containing 1,021 loaves of Indian hemp weighing 538kg worth N107 million
He explained that the contraband would be handed over to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency as required by the Nigerian law.
GIK/APA