The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, said it arrested a 71-year-old man with 6.35kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of N2.35bn concealed in a Toyota Highlander.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this on Tuesday, May 5, in Ikeja while showcasing some of the seized contraband to journalists.
Aliyu said the unit also intercepted other contraband worth over N5.5bn and foiled 473 smuggling attempts within the last eight weeks.
He said that the cocaine was intercepted during a separate operation along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
Aliyu added that intensified anti-smuggling operations led to the seizure of 8,794 bags of foreign rice, “equivalent to 15 trailer loads, 22 used vehicles, 1,863 used refrigerator compressors, and 328 bales of used clothing.”
“Other items seized include 31,705 litres of premium motor spirit, 1,188 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 531 cartons of poultry products, 485 used tyres, and 69 cartons of spaghetti. 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,” Aliyu said.
