In a major breakthrough in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and maritime-related crimes, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT have intercepted a van loaded with 20 bags of suspected cannabis sativa, weighing approximately 840 kilograms, around the Ijegun area of Lagos.
According to Captain Idongesit Udoesien, the Executive Officer of NNS BEECROFT, who represented the Commander, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, the interception took place in the early hours of Thursday, October 2nd, 2025, following credible intelligence reports. The operation was carried out by the Base Quick Response Team (QRT), with support from internal security personnel attached to Operation MESA.
Upon sighting the naval patrol team, the suspects reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled, leaving behind the contraband. The seized van, which bore a foreign registration number, was subsequently handed over along with its contents to Marine Commander Morrison Emmanuel Udo of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos, for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Captain Udoesien emphasized that the successful operation reflects the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to rid Nigeria’s maritime domain of illicit activities.
He stated that the interception is part of the broader efforts of the Nigerian Navy to clamp down on illegal maritime activities, particularly the trafficking of narcotics and other contrabands through Nigeria’s coastal waters.
He further assured that NNS BEECROFT will continue to intensify surveillance and intelligence-driven patrols across the Lagos waterways and adjoining creeks to ensure a secure environment that supports socio-economic development.
The Navy also commended the professionalism and vigilance of its personnel, while urging residents of Lagos and its coastal communities to collaborate by providing timely and credible information to enhance security operations.
With the continuous synergy between the Nigerian Navy and NDLEA, authorities say the fight against drug trafficking and other illicit maritime activities will remain a top priority in safeguarding the nation’s waterways.
