Niger: Customs releases N1.3m illicit drugs to NDLEA, NAFDAC for destruction

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The Nigeria Customs Service Area office has released various illicit drugs seizure to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for destruction, in Minna the Niger state capital..

Customs Area Controller in-charge of Niger, Kogi and Kwara zones, Mr. Mohammad Biu, who disclosed this while handing over the drugs to NDLEA and NAFDAC, noted that it was in accordance with the law.

“This is part of established synergy with other security agencies which will assist them carryout proper investigation since it is not in our purview to investigate such matter.

“Hence we are handing over these items for proper investigation and prosecution” he stated.

Biu intimated that the Customs intercepted seven cartons of Tramol, Tramadol and Jonaviga tablets, worth N1.2 million, along Mokwa – Kaduna road, in Niger state.

He added that the Service also recovered cannabis sativa worth N100, 000, in Babana area of the state.

The Customs Controller stated that no suspect was arrested during the two seizures, as the suspect conveying the marijuana on a motorcycle abandoned it and fled, while the bus used to convey the drugs was seized as no passenger claimed ownership.

While receiving the drugs on behalf of NAFDAC, the Unit Head of the agency in Niger, Mr. Dadi Mullah, commended the Customs Service for mopping-out the illicit drugs from the market.

Mullah assured the Customs that the drugs would not be seeing anywhere again as the agency would get authorization from the Federal Ministry of Environment to destroy them.

Also speaking, Mr. Aloye Isaac, who represented the state Commandant of NDLEA, said the essence of the exercise was to take the drugs out of circulation.