The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT handed over 187 bags of cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday, News About Nigeria gathered.
The substance, with a market value exceeding N200 million, was confiscated from locations including Badagry Creek and Eleko Beach in Lekki.
In his statement, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, the commander of NNS BEECROFT, expressed the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to curb crime and criminality in the maritime environment.
He highlighted the success of ongoing operations, particularly Operation Water Guard, in utilising advanced maritime domain awareness facilities like the Falcon Eye to detect and apprehend individuals involved in illegal activities.
Oguntuga assured Nigerians that the Navy would persist in pursuing those involved in such criminal activities and prevent the influx of illicit substances into the country.
Commander of Narcotics, Marine Command, NDLEA, Paul Ahom, explained that the end of the year typically sees increased drug trafficking as traffickers seek financial gains.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by cross-border drug trafficking from neighbouring countries but emphasised the robust relationship established with NNS Beecroft.
“The end of the year is usually a peak period for the transportation of drugs into the country to make financial gains and sponsor all manner of crimes perpetrated on the streets of Nigeria.
“The influx of cross-border drug trafficking from Ghana and Togo via the Republic of Benin to Nigeria has become a great challenge to coastal interagency maritime policing.
“However, the NDLEA has established a robust relationship with the NNS Beecroft; that is why the evidence is demonstrated today in the handing over of this large number of seizures to the NDLEA,” Ahom said.
