The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command has intercepted 2,448 wraps of Cannabis sativa and 2,667 used tyres in two and half months.
The Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo, made this known in Ibadan on Friday while briefing newsmen on the command’s achievements between June 14 and August 29.
Oramalugo said other seized items include a used Mazda car, 2,183 bags of 50 Kilogrammes of foreign rice, 753 kegs and 94 drums of petrol and 24 bales of used clothing.
The area commander estimated the total Duty Paid Value of the seizures in the months under review to be N713,150,400.
He regretted that the continuous consumption of hard drugs by some youths was not helping the fight against insecurity in the nation.
According to him, this must not be allowed to continue for the future of the country.
He further said that the Nigeria Customs has a responsibility to support the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in minimising or eradicating the drug menace contributing to national insecurity.
“Drugs are very dangerous and no human being will kill or rob without being under the influence of drugs.
“The command will, however, not allow the business of drugs to thrive in our areas of jurisdiction.
“This is why we have robust collaboration with NDLEA, and we hope there will be proper prosecution when the seized drugs are handed over to NDLEA,” he said.
He said the command intensified its efforts at combating smuggling activities and achieved successes despite operating in difficult terrains and with less-advanced technology.
He says the command is adopting technological innovations and strategies, collaborating with other security agencies, all in a bid to tackle the ever-evolving tactics of smugglers.
Oramalugo said the command generated N48.7 billion as revenue between Jan. and Aug. 2024, representing a 2.74 per cent increase compared to the N47.4bn generated within the same period in 2023.