Customs Arrest 71-Year-Old with N2.35bn Cocaine Haul

The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of Gambo Aliyu, arrested a 71-year-old man in Ikeja for possessing 6.35 kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth N2.35 billion. The cocaine was concealed in a Toyota Highlander.

This arrest is part of an intensified anti-smuggling operation along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, which has led to the seizure of various contraband items valued at N5.5 billion over the past eight weeks. The Customs Service has also confiscated 8,794 bags of foreign rice, 22 vehicles, 1,863 refrigerant compressors, and other goods, including 31,705 liters of premium motor spirit and 1,188 jerrycans of vegetable oil.

The operation, codenamed "Operation Hawk," aims to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks and has resulted in multiple arrests across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states. The Customs Service has emphasized the importance of using advanced technology, including satellite imagery and drones, to enhance enforcement efficiency.