The Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, said it had arrested three suspects in connection with the seizure of illicit drugs and controlled substances with an estimated street value of N3.95bn.

The Customs Area Controller in charge of the FOU Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday in Ikeja during the handover of the seized contraband to various government agencies.

Aliyu stated that the contraband, which included synthetic cannabis, tramadol, codeine syrup, crystal meth and other psychotropic substances, was intercepted along border corridors, highways and other strategic locations within the unit’s area of responsibility.

He added that the seizures included 5,669 parcels and 19 packs of synthetic cannabis, weighing 3,116.9 kilogrammes; three and a half packs of ground cannabis, weighing 3.45 kilogrammes; two packs of granular cannabis, weighing one kilogramme; and 11 packs of granular cannabis, weighing 0.35 kilogrammes.

“Other items seized were 49 wraps of cannabis, weighing 26.1 kilogrammes; one wrap of crystal meth, weighing 0.35 kilogramme; and Blackwood Russian Cream Cigars. The combined approximate street value of the seized narcotics and mercury was N3.95bn,” Aliyu said.

He also mentioned the seizure of 1,754 packs and 6,948 sachets of 225mg and 100mg tramadol tablets, 1,200 Hypnox tablets and 97 bottles of codeine syrup.

Aliyu highlighted that a truck used to conceal and transport 326 parcels of cannabis was also intercepted and would be handed over to the agency alongside two suspects linked to the seizure.

The Customs FOU A boss maintained that the three arrested suspects would also be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in line with its statutory mandate.

The CAC said the operation was part of the unit’s sustained enforcement campaign against drug trafficking syndicates and other trans-border criminal networks.

He noted that the substances fuel addiction, criminality, violence and other societal vices, stressing that the service would continue to support the NDLEA by disrupting the movement of narcotics and other illicit goods across the country’s borders.

Aliyu further said the formal transfer of the seized substances would enable the NDLEA to conduct the necessary forensic, investigative and prosecutorial processes, as well as ensure the secure storage and eventual disposal of the narcotics in accordance with the law.

In a related development, Aliyu said Customs officers also intercepted four cylinders of high-grade mercury allegedly destined for use in small-scale artisanal gold mining.

He described mercury as a dual-purpose chemical susceptible to end-use diversion, noting that it would be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency for appropriate investigation and regulatory action.

Aliyu also recalled the recent joint destruction of more than 300 tonnes of psychotropic substances, saying the latest handover reinforced the commitment of government agencies to protecting public health and national security.

He stressed that the seizures demonstrated the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling smuggling, drug trafficking and environmental crimes. According to him, “No single agency can effectively confront the complex nature of contemporary smuggling and trans-border criminality alone.”

He called for sustained information sharing, joint operations, intelligence fusion, coordinated profiling and capacity building among Customs, the NDLEA, NESREA and other security and regulatory agencies.

Aliyu further assured that the unit remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade while preventing the movement of prohibited, harmful and improperly regulated goods.