The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has transferred 85 bags of intercepted cannabis sativa, each weighing 40 kilograms, to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Marine Command.
In a statement issued by the Base Information Officer of NNS BEECROFT, Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, it was detailed that Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo, Commander of NNS BEECROFT, represented by Executive Officer Navy Captain Mutalib Raji, announced the successful operation. The cannabis, intercepted on July 14, 2024, was seized by the NNS BEECROFT Quick Response Team and Deep Blue Assets of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). This decisive action followed credible intelligence about suspicious activities involving criminal elements offloading cannabis sativa from a large wooden boat near Moba Beach in the Badagry area of Lagos State.
The operation commenced as the suspects, upon spotting the naval team, abandoned their boat, leaving behind 60 bags of cannabis sativa. A thorough search of the vicinity led to the discovery of an additional 25 bags, culminating in a total seizure of 85 bags weighing over 3,327 kilograms.
Captain Mutalib Raji underscored that this operation aligns with the Strategic Directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to maintain a robust presence along Lagos waterways and adjoining creeks, thereby eradicating maritime crimes. He issued a strong warning to individuals involved in illicit drug activities, affirming that NNS BEECROFT remains relentless in its pursuit of all criminal elements within its operational area.
This significant seizure and subsequent handover underscore NNS BEECROFT’s steadfast commitment to combating the spread and use of illicit drugs, which pose a severe threat to the health of young people and national security.
