The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT on Tuesday handed over 85 bags of cannabis sativa with a street value of over Four Hundred Million Naira (N400million),to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Briefing newsmen on the development at the Naval Base BEECROFT, the Executive Officer of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, said that the illicit wares were intercepted by naval operatives who were on patrol on the 14th day of July.
He said “These bags containing cannabis sativa were arrested on the 14 of July due to intelligence of a quick response team of the base and the Deep Blue Boats ( Maritime domain security assets owned by NIMASA).
“We got some credible intelligence about some criminal elements of the society, who were seen at Moba beach around Badagry, offloading these illicit items. As such, we deployed our men to go there for possible investigation and arrest. Fortunately, they met the criminals offloading the bags of cannabis sativa. But on sighting our men, the criminals fled the scene, leaving the boat.
“About 60 bags were initially intercepted. But due to combing of the entire area, 25 other bags were found and seized as well. So, the total number of bags seized became 85, and weighing about 3,327 kg of cannabis sativa.”
Oladejo disclosed that the navy, with the combined effort of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), are carrying on further investigations to fish out the criminal elements and to be able to ascertain where the illicit items were being smuggled from.
Speaking also, the Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Marine Command, Paul Ahom, commended the NNS BEECROFT for its commitment to ensuring that criminal elements smuggling illicit drugs and dangerous substances such as cannabis sativa, don’t find easy routes to move such items.
His words: “I thank the navy for joining us in policing the waterways to combat crime and trafficking of illicit substances.”
He, however, noted that a setback they are faced with is the difficulty in ascertaining where the consignments come from when no suspect is arrested.
“Intelligence has it that they enroute that axis from Benin Republic. The problem we have most of the time is that if there is no lead, that is, if no suspect is arrested, it makes it very difficult for us to ascertain where these things are coming from.
“This is why we maintain our collaboration with the NNS BEECROFT, so that the area of policing these syndicates is wide. And the cooperation of the navy in the regard has been very outstanding over the years.
Ahom disclosed that the seized cannabis sativa would have no less a street value than N400 million, as he lamented the devastation that faces substance abusers, their families and even society at large.
He said: “What we have here will be close to over four hundred million naira. The devastating effect is not only on the abusers, but on their families too.”
He added that hoodlums, terrorists and kidnappers take these substances to become wild to be able to wreak havoc on innocent people in the society.
Ahom warned against such criminality as trafficking in illicit substances, because the law enforcement agencies of government would not leave anything to chance in combating the menace.
