The Federal High Court, Lagos, has sentenced four persons to different jail terms for smuggling-related offences.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, had dragged the four convicts – Ibrahim Musa, 29; Abubakar Sabo, 19; Godwin Edet, 24; and 26-year-old Maxwell Zosu – before the court.
The men were jailed for unlawful possession of 5.7kgs, 5.1kgs, 4kgs and 2kgs respectively Indian hemp.
Our correspondent learnt that 43 others were still standing trial for the same offences brought against them by the NCS.
The four convicts pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. The Customs Area Controller, Seme Command, Mohammed Uba Garba, said yesterday that 47 persons were arrested for attempting to smuggle in contraband items into the country from Benin Republic.
Garba said that the convicts and 43 others were arrested between January and November 2019 by the Command.
He added that exhibits found on the accused persons included illicit substances like Indian hemp, Tramadol and sex enhancing cream. There were some other suspects, he added, who were nabbed with bags of rice and vegetable oil.