The Quick Response Team of Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has Intercepted bags of substances suspected to be Cannabis sativa at Eleko Beach, Lekki, Lagos.
Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga , said the team acting on credible Intelligence on Friday, November 27, swiftly responded, leading to the confiscation of 113 bags of Cannabis sativa at the beach.
According to him, the criminals, upon sighting the team, abandoned the narcotics and fled.
“This commendable effort further extended along the Badagry route, resulting in the arrest of additional 14 bags. All seized contraband items, totaling 127 bags, would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for necessary action.
“These successful arrests underscore the Nigerian Navy’s dedication under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla to combating illicit drug trafficking and preserving the well-being of the Nigerians,” he added.
Meanwhile, Men of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, Ondo State, have intercepted and destroyed 15,775 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
While putting the value of the products at N13,251,000, Commanding Officer of the Base, Captain Wasuku Alushi, said the operation was carried out in Ilaje Local Council of the state by the Anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT) patrol team.
Executive Officer of the Base, Commander Humphrey Nnaji, who spoke on behalf of Alushi, said the products were destroyed in accordance with the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe mandate on COT.
According to him, the team had received intel on illegal bunkering within the axis, after which a wooden boat popularly known as a “cotonou” laden with crude oil was tracked and intercepted.
He said: “The wooden boat was intercepted about 12 NM off the coast of the adjoining Ojumole and Obe communities in the Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State.
“On sighting of the Naval personnel, the crew abandoned the boat and fled.”
Speaking further on the mandate of the Base, he stressed that it was established to serve as a force multiplier for the Western Naval Command (WNC) in furtherance of its policing roles, especially anti-crude oil theft (COT) and illegal bunkering.
He reiterated the commitment of the Base to stamp out the menace of COT and other crimes in Igbokoda and its environs.
Nnaji assured that the base will continue to carry out its operations in line with the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.