Customs hands over ₦511.4m seized drugs, codeine to NDLEA, NAFDAC
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has handed over seized illicit drugs and pharmaceutical products valued by Customs at ₦511.4 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The handover took place at the unit’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, on October 16, with the receiving agencies expected to conduct further investigation and take any appropriate legal action.
The seized items included 121 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 65.9kg, 100g of crystal methamphetamine, 400g of cocaine, 900g of ground synthetic cannabis, 4.3kg of hybrid cannabis and 57 cartons of assorted codeine syrup.
Customs also listed 86 packs of polythene bags allegedly used to conceal some of the substances.
Two interceptions, two suspects
Customs said the seizures came from two separate operations.
According to the service, a patrol team intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos–Benin Expressway around Ore in Ondo State at about 1pm on October 10.
Customs said the vehicle contained suspected illicit drugs concealed in polythene bags and that subsequent examination and analysis by NDLEA officials confirmed the substances from that interception.
In a separate operation on October 7, officers intercepted another vehicle along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and found 57 cartons of assorted codeine syrup.
Two male suspects — one linked to each interception — and two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna, were also handed over to the relevant agencies.
Customs says operations were intelligence-led
Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Oluwaseun Oguntuase, who represented Acting Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the seizures resulted from intelligence-driven operations across border corridors, highways and other strategic locations within the unit’s area of responsibility.
Customs said the handover reflected inter-agency cooperation against drug trafficking, the smuggling of controlled substances and the circulation of unsafe pharmaceutical products.
NDLEA, NAFDAC take custody
NDLEA and NAFDAC representatives received the exhibits, suspects and vehicles for further investigation and any action permitted by law.
The handover does not establish criminal guilt.
Any prosecution will depend on the outcome of further investigation, laboratory evidence where required and formal charges tested before a court.
Accountability questions remain
The immediate questions are whether either suspect will be charged, what offences prosecutors may allege, how the seized substances entered the transport chain and whether the investigations identify wider networks.
There is also a public-interest question around how effectively Customs, NDLEA and NAFDAC are sharing intelligence on controlled drugs and pharmaceuticals moving through major road corridors.
