DC KUKOYI HITS GROUND RUNNING, OVER 400 KG OF CANNABIS SEIZED AT LFTZ COMMAND

DC Kukoyi left and CN Jonah to his left examining some of the seized narcotics.

Story by Dili Utomi.

The new Acting Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone, Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi is bringing his experience to bear at the Command. This is because on Wednesday, 14th of October, a joint examination was conducted at the Lekki Freeport Terminal on a container with registration number PRSU1562064.

The examination which was conducted in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation was carried out by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The container was destined for a Bonded Terminal outside the LFTZ Command through the process of transire, but the officers of the different agencies acting on credible and actionable intelligence, decided to step down the container to subject its content to thorough examination.

Officers opening the bags containing the drugs at the Port.

DC Kukoyi noted while briefing journalists that “Upon opening and thoroughly examining the pallets, officers uncovered substances suspected to be illicit narcotics, ingeniously concealed among reams of A4 printing paper in an apparent attempt to evade Customs detection”.

His words “The comprehensive examination revealed the following:
Four hundred (400) packages of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, commonly referred to as “Loud,” with a total weight of 400 kilograms. Seven hundred and ninety-eight (798) reams of A4 printing paper, strategically deployed as concealment materials to disguise the illicit consignment”.

The seized substances have an estimated Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦2,262,960,000.00 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira).

DC Kukoyi flanked by CN Jonah and other officers.

According to DC Kukoyi “this interception is not merely about the seizure of 400 kilograms of suspected illicit drugs valued at over ₦2.26 billion. It represents a significant victory for public safety, national security and the collective determination of our security agencies to protect Nigerian society from the devastating consequences of drug trafficking and abuse”.

He ccommended the vigilance, professionalism and dedication of his officers, as well as the invaluable cooperation of the sister agencies before, during and after the operation.

On his part, Jonah Achema, Commander of Narcotics (CN) Area Commander, NDLEA Lekki Port Area Command while preparing to receive the seized drugs also commended the cooperation that exists among the agencies.

The official hand over ceremony, DC Kukoyi right and CN Jonah left.

He noted that “Today’s event, coming barely few days after the take-over of the Customs Command by the new CAC sends a very strong signal that the CAC is ready to take inter-agency collaboration as well as the counter-narcotic onslaught to the next level. It sends the appropriate message to the unscrupulous maritime drug criminals that their operations will only end in the drag net of the Agency”.

He added that the seizure being handed over, standing at 400 kilograms of Cannabis indica from Thailand is huge by all standards. This he noted “is coming after other phenomenal seizures in the Port such as two containers of illicit pharmaceutical opioids (tramadol 225, tramaking royal 250) with a total weight of 46 tonnes and an estimated street value of 35 Billion Naira”.

CN Jonah assures the Controller and the entire Sister Agencies that the NDLEA will remain consistent and will continue to do everything to sustain the hard earned collaboration that has brought the streak of successes at the Command.

The two agency heads paid glowing tributes to their respective principals, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Buba Marwa for their unalloyed support and encouragement.

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