The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has said it has turned over 72 bags of confiscated cannabis sativa, each weighing 40 kilograms, as well as four suspected drug traffickers, three Ghanaians, and one Beninoi, to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Marine Command.
The Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, who was represented by the Executive Officer, Navy Captain Mutalib Raji, stated that the consignments were intercepted on August 25, 2024, by the NNS BEECROFT Quick Response Team.
According to the Base Information Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, Lt Hussaini Ibrahim, this was in response to credible and actionable intelligence received by NNS BEECROFT regarding suspicious actions of some criminal groups in the vicinity of Lekki Beach Axis.
This, he stated, compelled the deployment of a Quick Response Team to the region for extensive patrol and search, resulting in the interception of 72 bags of cannabis sativa weighing over 2880 kilograms.
“Interestingly, the team also arrested three Ghanians – Mr Godswill Zevor, Mr Monday Kpomeja, Mr Gbega Agbeko and a Beninoi Mr Elugbe Philip; making a total of four suspects,” he disclosed.
Ibrahim added that the endeavour was in response to Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s Strategic Directive to maintain a credible presence in Lagos waterways and surrounding waterways to guarantee a safe and secure maritime environment for the growth of commercial activities.
He also cautioned drug dealers to stop their illegal activities, stating that NNS BEECROFT will continue to go after any criminal element existing within its jurisdiction.
According to him, “This successful arrest of a large quantity of cannabis sativa and four suspects is testament to unrelenting efforts of NNS BEECROFT to curtailing spread and use of illicit drugs among teaming youth which negatively affect their health and threaten national security”.