The Nigerian Navy (NN) has intercepted 2,880kg of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa in Elegushi Beach area, Lekki in Lagos state.
Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, the commander of NNS BEECROFT patrol team, which intercepted the substances, announced this in a statement signed on Tuesday by the base information officer, Lt. Hussaini Ibrahim.
The contraband, which was packaged in 72 bags, each weighing 40kg, was seized on June 5, and has been handed over to personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Commodore Oladejo said the interception was part of the NN’s ongoing Operation Water Guard and was made possible by the NNS BEECROFT Quick Response Team and the Deep Blue Assets of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
“This interception underscores the unwavering commitment of NNS BEECROFT to curtailing the spread and use of illicit drugs among teaming youth, which negatively affects their health and threatens national security.
“Perpetrators of illicit drugs should desist from such acts as NNS BEECROFT will not rest on its oars to pursuing all criminal elements operating within its area of operation,” the commander said.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Commander of the NDLEA Marine Command, Paul Ahom, while commending personnel of the Nigerian Navy, said there will not be further investigation since no arrest was made.
“It would have been more detailed if other assets were involved”, he said, explaining that other assets refers to boats or suspects. “If assets are involved, it opens up a wider scope of investigations for us, because NDLEA operations are evidence based. If it is only exhibits, there is a limit to which we can go because we are only interacting with exhibits”, Commander Ahom said.
