Customs intercepts ‘cocaine worth N3.9bn hidden in bus conveying religious books’

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted cocaine valued at N3.9 billion hidden inside a Ford transit bus in Lagos.

Hussein Abdullahi, spokesperson of the command, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, Bello Jibo, customs area controller, said the substance was discovered on January 23 in a bus conveying religious books.

The cocaine is said to have weighed 11.913kg.

“The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has reported the interception of cocaine weighing 11.913kg,” the statement reads.

“The street value of the items was estimated to be N3,916,624,147.00.

“Jibo explained that the substance was intercepted along Seme-Badagry Expressway at about 09:00 hrs on Sunday, 23 January, 2022.

“Consequently, the substance was subjected to test and verification by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and was found to be cocaine weighing 11.913kg.”

In another development, the NCS said its officers also intercepted 31,950 litres of petroleum product in Seme on Wednesday.

The petroleum product was said to be contained in 1,065 jerrycans “with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N10,041,198.00”.

“This came after the Area Command initiated offensive patrol against the smuggling of petroleum products along the creeks within Seme and Badagry,” Abdullahi said.

“The Customs Area Controller, Compt. Bello Mohammed Jibo, stressed that the offensive crackdown on the activities of the petroleum product smugglers is with a mission of getting them arrested wherever they are.

“He reassured [residents] that the Command will continue to make life uncomfortable for the unpatriotic Nigerians trading illegal businesses in the area.”

He also appreciated the “cooperation of sister agencies and relevant stakeholders at Seme border”.