Operatives of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have foiled a late-night drug trafficking operation along the Badagry-Seme border route.
Gatekeepers News reports that they seized 22 parcels of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of N1 billion and handed them over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The interception, which took place in the early hours of February 10, was carried out by officers of the Seme Area Command during a routine border patrol. According to customs authorities, the operation was executed around 3:00am when a Toyota Highlander was stopped and thoroughly searched after raising suspicion.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony at the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, on Friday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspection, Timi Bomodi, revealed that the illicit drugs were ingeniously concealed beneath the vehicle’s axle in a specially constructed bunker.
“Our dedicated officers intercepted a Toyota Highlander carrying 22 packages suspected to be cocaine. These substances were carefully hidden in a special bunker underneath the vehicle’s axle, so expertly concealed that, for the eagle eyes of our officers, it would have been virtually impossible to detect,” Bomodi said.
He disclosed that one suspect was arrested during the operation, adding that the successful interception was led by officers of the Seme Area Command under the supervision of Wale Adenuga. Bomodi emphasized that the operation reflects the agency’s continuous efforts to strengthen border security and disrupt criminal networks involved in drug trafficking.
“This operation demonstrates the Service’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and protecting society from the scourge of narcotics,” he said.
He further stressed that sustained collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies remains vital in combating the growing threat of cross-border drug smuggling and its associated security risks.
Customs officials explained that the seizure was conducted in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which empowers the agency to enforce laws relating to prohibited goods, public health, and national security.
While receiving the seized substances and the suspect, the Assistant Commander-General of the NDLEA Lagos Strategic Command, Abubakar Wali, applauded the strong working relationship between both agencies, describing it as crucial to national drug control efforts.
“The handover underscores the effectiveness of the MOU between the NDLEA and NCS, as well as the value of inter-agency collaboration in curbing cross-border drug trafficking,” Wali said.
He added that the NDLEA would immediately commence further investigation and prosecution in line with existing laws, assuring that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure the suspect is brought to justice.
