Customs Seize ₦157.8m Cannabis Haul, Escort Over 21,000 Containers in Western Marine Crackdown

By Amina Ojelabi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the interception of 20 sacks of Cannabis Indica valued at ₦157.8 million, even as it facilitated the secure movement of 21,414 containers across the nation’s ports.
The seizure, which comprised 1,205 loaves of Cannabis Indica, was made during a recent anti-smuggling operation conducted by vigilant officers of the Command. The Area Controller of Customs, Western Marine Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Wednesday.

Comptroller Ntadi explained that the illicit drugs were carefully concealed and suspected to have been smuggled into the country through Nigeria’s waterways. He noted that the interception highlights the Command’s sustained efforts to secure the maritime environment, protect the economy, and enforce compliance with customs laws.
He added that beyond enforcement, the Command has continued to play a strategic role in trade facilitation. According to him, the Western Marine Container Escort Team successfully escorted 21,414 containers from seaports to designated bonded terminals during the period under review, ensuring regulatory compliance, transparency, and the smooth flow of legitimate trade.

“These achievements underscore our statutory mandate of border security, revenue protection, and trade facilitation,” Comptroller Ntadi said. “We remain steadfast in our resolve to combat smuggling and other criminal activities that pose threats to national security and economic stability.”
The Controller attributed the successes to enhanced intelligence gathering, effective inter-agency collaboration, and the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Adewale Bashir Adeniyi.

He acknowledged the support of sister security agencies, including the Nigerian Navy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Marine Police, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The Western Marine Command reassured the public of its continued commitment to suppressing smuggling and all forms of illegal activities, while ensuring strict enforcement of the law and the protection of Nigeria’s maritime borders.