WMC Seizes Smuggled Ammonium Sulphate, Cannabis Sativa Worth ₦582m
The Western Marine Command (WMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a major success in its anti-smuggling operations, intercepting stolen goods valued at over ₦582 million.
During a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, revealed the seizure of 86 sacks of Ammonium Sulphate and Polypropylene, worth ₦4.5 million. The chemicals, typically used in fertilizer production and as components for explosives, were recovered from a boat en route to a fertilizer facility after being stolen.
Ntadi noted that the interception was made possible through enhanced intelligence gathering and surveillance efforts by the Command.
Additional confiscated items include:
• 1,312 loaves of foreign Cannabis Sativa valued at ₦232.8 million
• 1,827 bags of foreign parboiled rice worth ₦204.6 million
• 174 sacks of Ammonium Sulphate valued at ₦15.6 million
• 42 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth ₦1.94 million
• 14 boat engines estimated at ₦73.3 million
• 11 fiber boats valued at ₦46.2 million
• 3 wooden boats worth ₦3.15 million
The total estimated value of the seized items stands at ₦582.2 million, delivering a significant blow to smuggling operations in the region.
Since assuming leadership of the Command, Comptroller Ntadi has introduced several improvements. These include the removal of hoodlums around the Command’s perimeter, construction of a new security post at the gate, installation of a large signboard for visibility, and greenfield landscaping to enhance the Command’s image.
Operational efficiency has also been boosted through the refurbishment of two patrol vehicles, improved land-side logistics, and better crew support. Staff welfare has seen upgrades too, with the addition of new toilet facilities and a canteen.
These initiatives reflect the broader goals of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.
The press event also featured the decoration of 36 newly promoted officers—28 senior and 8 junior—including the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Okopi. Comptroller Ntadi urged the officers to maintain professionalism and integrity in their new roles, noting the promotions as a reward for dedication and excellence.
Furthermore, the Command formally handed over the 1,312 loaves of seized Cannabis Sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The handover was received by ACGN Obadiah Buba Wakawa, Commander of the Apapa Strategic Command, who praised Ntadi and his team for preventing the drugs from reaching the public, stating that the consequences of their circulation could have been devastating.
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