The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area Command, yesterday confiscated 1.8 tons of Indian hemp in the Imeko/Ilara axis in Imeko-Afon Local Government, Ogun State.
The substance, which was packed in separate 176 sacks, 120 book-size packs and 21 coconut-size packs, was suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria from a neighbouring country.
Disclosing this yesterday while handing over the seized substance to the Ogun State Commander of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ishaku Kwajafa, at the Customs’ Office, Abeokuta, the Command Comptroller, Michael Agbara, said the Command had gotten information that some vehicles laden with rice were parked along the Imeko-Ilara road.
Agbara added that when the Command’s operatives stormed the scene, they discovered that the vehicles were carrying Indian hemp.
According to him, the operatives couldn’t make any arrest because they saw only the vehicles and the weeds at the scene.
Agbara said, “We are handing it over to the NDLEA as part of the synergy we have with the agency in Ogun State. We are doing all that we can to rid Ogun State of all substances used by criminals to undermine the security of the nation.”
Kwajafa vowed to go after the owners of the substances and ensure they were brought to book.
He disclosed that the NDLEA had prosecuted and secured 30 years imprisonment for a suspect arrested in connection with the last set of seized Indian hemp handed over to the agency by the NCS.
“Though the suspects are yet to be arrested, I have assured the Comptroller that after taking over the exhibits, we will conduct thorough investigation and ensure we trace the owners,” Kwajafa said.
