A former official of the Nigerian Customs Service has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for smuggling cannabis through the Seme border to Lagos Island.
Emmanuel
The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an ex-Nigerian Customs official identified as Ngwoke Emmanuel, for smuggling cannabis through the Seme border to Lagos Island.
While confessing his crimes to security operatives, he told officials after his arrest that he was paid half a million naira to smuggle the drugs disguised as used clothes.
The 39-year-old suspect explained in his statement that he thought he was helping to smuggle used clothes.
“I was paid N500,000 to smuggle the goods from the border to Lagos Island but when the consignment was searched by customs officers at Gbaji checking point, it turned out to be cannabis.
“That was how they arrested, dismissed and transferred me to NDLEA. I was only concerned about taking care of my wife and child. I did not know what next to do,” Emmanuel said.
According to a report by Punch Metro, the cannabis, which weighed 394kg, was seized by Customs officers at the Gbaji checking-point along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
The suspect was immediately transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for investigation.
The NDLEA commander at the Seme border, Udotung Essien, disclosed that the estimated value of the drug is N4m, adding that the agency took custody of the suspect along with the weeds.
“Investigation is ongoing and the suspect will soon be charged to court,” he said.