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In a bid to curb the high volume of illicit drugs, unregistered pharmaceuticals and other smuggling activities in the Ogun State region, the Comptroller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, on Monday visited the Ogun State Commands of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Police Force.
Gambo, speaking at the NDLEA Ogun State Command, disclosed that over 60 percent of the two tonnes of Cannabis Indica intercepted by FOU Customs Zone A in just over 3 months of his administration was recorded within Ogun State, while the Seme/Badagry and Oyo corridors accounted for 20 percent each.
The Customs Comptroller said the visit formed part of ongoing strategic engagements with sister security agencies to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and sustain the crackdown on illicit drug trafficking and other transborder crimes along the Ogun corridor.
He remarked that the recent coordinated enforcement operations against the smuggling of illicit drugs, particularly Cannabis Indica, had come at a heavy cost to the Service following the death of a gallant officer during one of the operations.
Aliyu explained that the FOU Zone A remained committed to delivering on the enforcement mandate of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, particularly the zero-tolerance policy against illicit imports and substances harmful to national security and public health.
He stressed that the Service would continue to leverage intelligence sharing, joint patrols and coordinated operations with partner agencies to curb the proliferation of narcotics and other contraband threatening the nation’s stability.
Responding, the Ogun State Commander of the NDLEA, Commander of Narcotics (CN) Tijjani Rabe, commended the Customs Service for its sustained enforcement efforts and reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to deepen cooperation in intelligence sharing and joint operations aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks across the state.
Rabe stressed that beyond tackling the drug smuggling crime and fighting the syndicates, the Ogun State NDLEA Command has embraced a proactive approach to engage young adults and teenagers in a bid to reduce the appeal for hard drug usage.
During a separate courtesy visit to the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Aliyu emphasized the long-standing partnership between the Customs Service and the police in safeguarding national security.
He described synergy among security agencies as critical to combating evolving threats posed by smugglers and criminal syndicates exploiting border corridors.
The Comptroller also expressed appreciation to the police leadership in the state for their swift response and professionalism in ongoing efforts to apprehend those responsible for the incident that led to the loss of a Customs officer during an anti-smuggling operation.
Aliyu reaffirmed that the Customs Service would continue to strengthen joint patrols, intelligence exchanges and operational collaboration with the police to enhance border security and combat economic sabotage.
The visits, according to him, were aimed at consolidating existing partnerships and reinforcing the shared commitment of security agencies to rid the Ogun border corridor of illicit drugs, smuggling activities and other crimes threatening national development.
