By Oluwatosin Maliki
The custom service officers of the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria announced that they intercepted 12 sacks and 195 compressed wraps of Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp), weighing a total of 259 kg.
The officers of the command, revealed that the seizure of the prohibited and smuggled items was made while on routine patrol operation.
This was disclosed by Babajide Jaiyeoba, the Customs Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Area Command, at a press briefing, held at the Oyo/Osun Area Command’s premises, on Tuesday.
While, handing over the prohibited substance to the Commander of Narcotics of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, CN Yinka Joe-Fadile, Jayeioba said that the routine patrol operation was in line with the policy thrust of the Ag Comtroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
In addition, the Oyo/Osun Area Controller added that the exercise was also aimed at bolstering the already existing interagency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA.
Jaiyeoba said,“The Nigeria Customs Service as an Agency of the Federal Government is saddled with the responsibility of facilitating legitimate trade, collection of revenue for the government, and suppression of smuggling, i.e. national security, to mention but a few.
“We would like to use this opportunity to assure members of the general public that Officers and Men of the Command would continue to conduct our duties professionally and leave no stone unturned to ensure that our AoR is free from activities of unscrupulous elements, with the aim of making our great country (Nigeria safe for all citizens”.
“I would like to acknowledge and appreciate Sister Security Agencies for their collaboration in our fight against smuggling. We equally recognise the cooperation of traditional rulers, community leaders, the government and the good people of Oyo and Osun states in providing an enabling environment for command officers to perform our statutory duties optimally.”
