The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), TinCan Special Area Command, says it has seized 799.95kg of cannabis indica worth ₦2.66 billion between January and August, 2023 .
The Area Commander Tincan, Mohammed Abubakar, in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday, said apart from the cannabis indica, imported from Canada and the United States, the command also seized 24kg of cocaine from a bulk cargo vessel, Cooper Island, within the stipulated period.
Abubakar reacted to the allegation that NDLEA extorts money from clearing agents and importers under the pretense that their containers are on watch list for drug import.
He described the allegation as completely baseless and without any merit.
The NDLEA boss noted that the watch listing process was not undertaken independently by the organisation, but involve collaboration with government authorities, customs agencies, and relevant stakeholders, responsible for overseeing and implementing these measures.
He stated that these checks and balances ensure that decisions made regarding container watch listing are based on actionable intelligence and objective risk assessments rather than personal interests.
He emphasised that they take these false allegations seriously and would spare no effort in defending the organisation’s integrity and reputation. He was quoted saying:
“We trust that truth and fairness will prevail in the face of these baseless accusations, and our commitment to serving the Nigerian and global trade community will remain unshakeable, while maintaining the security integrity of our nation“.
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