The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service, in Lagos, has impounded a bus containing 39 sacks and 1,220 parcels of Cannabis Sativa popularly known as Indian Hemp.
The Controller of the unit, Mohammed Uba, said the vehicle, a Ford, with engine registration number: XL23452L, was impounded alongside the driver after a tip-off from members of the public.
Uba said the items, concealed inside fresh tomatoes, pepper, and vegetables, were intercepted along Olorunda axis of Ogun state on Friday last week.
He said in the spirit of inter-agency relationship, the seized substance will be handed over to NDLEA for further investigation.
Other items seized by the agency two weeks after the last seizure are one MAN Diesel Truck with registration number, XB 286 BE,N along Afromedia Estate by Egbeda Junction beside Alaba International market carrying 2,748 cartons of DSP Codeine Cough Syrup 100mg (100 per carton) and 95 cartons of Chaka Pain Xtra, a pain-killer, based on a tip-off.
Uba said, “This is the second time in a row the unit is intercepting this substance since the Federal Government banned the importation of cough syrup that contains codeine.
“The substance is valued at N1,175,200,000.
“The driver of the truck on sighting our officers abandoned the truck and fled. Also, 49 cartons of tramadol capsules 100mg were evacuated from a warehouse in Ajao Estate based on information. The drugs will be handed over to NAFDAC for further investigation.”
The FOU boss, who has just been transferred to head the Customs Command at Seme, said his officers had evacuated 21 sacks of pangolin scales, weighing 1,031kg and four pieces of elephant tusk, weighing 29.35kg, from a shop in a market in Victoria Island based on information by the Warehouse Operations team led by Mutalib Sule, a customs officer.
According to him, the occupant of the shop fled and are still at large but investigation is already ongoing towards getting the culprit arrested and prosecuted.