The Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service says it uncovered cocaine weighing 25.5kg onboard a Brazilian ship, MV San Anthonio, in Lagos on Saturday.
Its area controller, Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed this in a statement.
Mr Oshoba said that the illicit drugs, packaged in 24 parcels/slabs, were hidden in five bags found aboard the ship, after which Customs intelligence-led checks resulted in the detention of the ship.
The Comptroller lauded the discovery, describing it as a fallout of the robust synergy between the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
According to him, customs intelligence discovered that, upon her departure from Brazil, the ship’s country of origin, she had called at ports in Honduras.
The ship also called at Guatemala and other places suspected to be hubs for the illicit drug trade.
Mr Oshoba reiterated the NCS’s resolve to ensure only legitimate trade thrives at the port of Apapa in Lagos, following a zero-compromise directive by the comptroller general of customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
While handing over the seized drugs to the NDLEA for further action, Oshoba also announced the detention of the vessel that came into Nigeria with the cocaine.
“What has happened today is the outcome of profiling and intelligence-led operations by the NCS and NDLEA. Our resolve to prevent unlawful trade is refreshed daily following the directives of the CGC.
“This seizure and detention of the ship should send strong message of warning that should resonate in the camp of perpetrators of unlawful trade within our port system. Customs is strengthening its synergy with all sister government agencies, and no criminal or group of lawless persons can beat us here,” Mr Oshoba said.
He noted that as yuletide approached, NCS would not sacrifice national security and economy to alter trade facilitation. Mr Oshoba mentioned that all consignments exiting Apapa port for markets and warehouses would be duly examined, with their contents ascertained.
(NAN)