By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi Area Command, has intercepted contraband items worth N37.820 million, which includes 104 parcels of Indian hemp of laptop size of 1kg each, 99 diazepam tablets and 70 packs of tramadol in the state.
Other items seized by the customs and now handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) includes 1,275 litres of PMS, 107 bags of foreign rice, 52 Jerry cans of vegetable oil, two vehicles.
Customs Area Controller, Dr. Ben Oramalugo who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen at the command’s headquarters, Birnin Kebbi said a middle age indigene of Birnin Kebbi, Suleiman Yusuf was arrested with the items along Kamba-Kyangakai road in the state.
According to the Controller, on Sunday, the 11th June, 2023 based on a tip off from a well meaning citizen about a vehicle conveying offensive goods into the country, the Customs Command’s officers and men swung into action and at about 1005Hrs through stop and search along Kamba-Kyangakwai Road, the officers and men were able to identify the vehicle suspected to be carrying the illegal concealment.
He said after a thorough search and examination, the white vehicle mentioned matches the description of the suspected vehicle with Chassis No: IHGRC3KEA246069 and fortunately, one hundred and four (104) parcels (laptop size of 1KG each) of cannabis sativa and ninety nine (99) 5mg diazepam tablets was found concealed in the vehicle driven by the suspect of middle age named Suleiman Yusuf (popularly known as Babangida). In a similar event, an abandoned seizure made of 70 packs of tramaking/tramadol (225mg) and 260 diazepam tablets (5mg) was captured on Monday, the 5th of June 2023 at about 1117hrs at Kamba/Rijiyar Maikafi bush path by the same patrol team but no suspect was apprehended.
"The offensive goods along with the suspect were brought to the Command's Headquarters for further investigation.
"The items valued at thirty seven million eight hundred and twenty thousand (₦37, 820,000) and the suspect will be handed over to the NDLEA Kebbi State Command for further necessary action.
He noted that "the effect of drugs on particularly our youth cannot be over emphasized. In addition to the harms it inflicts on its direct users ranging from low self esteem, depression, suicidal thoughts and mental health problems, it's also the catalyst for almost all criminal activities our country is plagued with. We therefore cannot fold our arms and watch our youth descend to the lowest ebb of moral decadence."
The controller however maintained that Items seized within the period under review are, "104 parcels of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) and 99 diazepam tablets (5mg) as mentioned above, 70 packs of Tramaking/Tramadol (225mg) and 260 diazepam tablets (5mg), 107 foreign parboiled rice (50kg), 38 bales of secondhand clothing, 1,275 litres of PMS, 52 jerry can of vegetable oil , 1 honda accord 2011 and 1 used Opel Vehicle, among others."
He added that "the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the items stands at sixty four million six hundred and thirteen thousand five hundred and ninety four (₦64, 613, 594)."
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