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The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Oyo/Osun command, has seized 1,040 compressed cannabis (SK Blocks) and another 101 bags of cannabis sativa with duty paid value of N159 million.
The command also arrested 24 suspects in connection with various seizures this year.
The Comptroller of Customs, Argungu Abdullahi Zulkifli, who disclosed this to newsmen as part of achievements of the command in last 11 months, said 21 of the suspects were on administrative bail, one charged to court and two convicted.
Between January and November this year, he said, the command made a total of 313 seizures with a duty paid value of N519 million.
The command also generated the sum of N35 billion between January and November this year, an increase of 59 percent against N22 billion generated in 2018.
He listed other seizures to include 2,540 (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice valued at N72 million, 12 fairly used (Tokunbo) vehicles, 15 bags of sugar, three motorcycles, 40 bales of second-hand clothes and shoes and 500 used tyres.
Zulkifli put the duty paid value of these seized items at N143 million.
He said most of the goods were concealed in trucks and vehicles meant to convey commuters, but used to perpetuate the evil acts.
The Federal Government in August closed Nigerian land borders in a bid to tackle smuggle and encourage local production.
But Zulkifli said: “Despite the partial border closure, some recalcitrant ones still find other means of perpetuating smuggling especially as the yelutide approaches. Our officers are and will always be on the watch for them at all times”.
While commending the efforts of the officers and men, the Customs chief said the command found it worthy to award some outstanding officers who performed creditably well in the out-going year. The officers include Amusan John of Igbeti out station, Adewole Moses, in charge of operations and Idowu Gafar.
