Nigeria Customs nab 71-year-old with N2.35bn cocaine haul

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to combating illicit trade and safeguarding national security with a series of significant seizures. The arrest of a 71-year-old suspect in possession of cocaine valued at an astonishing N2.35 billion, concealed within a Toyota Highlander, is a stark reminder of the sophisticated methods employed by drug traffickers.

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The officers also arrested a 71-year-old man driving a Toyota Highlander conveying 6.35kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of N2.35bn.

Beyond this high-profile bust, the unit's intensified anti-smuggling operations have yielded an impressive haul of contraband worth over N5.5 billion. This includes substantial quantities of foreign rice, used vehicles, refrigerators, and hazardous materials like mercury, alongside a significant seizure of synthetic cannabis. These interceptions, occurring across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states, underscore the pervasive nature of smuggling activities and the critical role of customs in interdicting these threats.

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The unit also intercepted four cylinders of mercury weighing 80kg each, described the substance as hazardous and regulated under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

The deployment of advanced digital surveillance techniques, including geospatial intelligence and drone monitoring, signifies a modernization of enforcement strategies. This proactive approach, coupled with operations like 'Operation Hawk' targeting narcotics trafficking, reflects a robust and evolving strategy to disrupt criminal networks. The handover of seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and mercury to environmental agencies highlights a coordinated inter-agency effort to address multifaceted security and environmental challenges.

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The comptroller handed over the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.