The Nigerian Navy has seized 27 bags of substance suspected as cannabis valued at N35 million.
While the personnel intercepted the substances in Pako, close to Port Novo, and entrance into Nigeria via the waters, the suspects were said to have eloped.
The Nigerian Navy gave the update at the handing over the items to representatives of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the FOB Badagry.
Addressing the media, the Commanding Officer of Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Badagry, Navy Captain Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, acknowledged the quick response of his team acting on human intelligence on September 29.
“The suspects fled into the community upon seeing our men. Investigation is ongoing and at an advanced stage to identify and arrest them in conjunction with other security agencies,” he added.
According to Adams-Aliu, when the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, assumed command, he outlined his vision.
“It states that the Nigerian Navy is to be a highly motivated and professional force capable of bringing solutions to security within the maritime domain in the Gulf of Guinea,” he emphasised.
According to the CO, drug syndicates bring these illicit drugs to Nigeria because Nigeria has the population. “They probably think that Nigeria has the market. And when they cannot go by road, they go by the waterways.
“The CNS directives 2023 stated that the strategic end state of Nigerian Navy operation is to ensure that the Nigerian waterways are safe and secure for legal and economic activities.”
Adams Aliu, however, warned that “we cannot allow these legal activities to continue in our waterways.”
On his part, the Commander of Narcotis and Area Commander Seme Special Area Commander, NDLEA, Dinneys Fingere, appreciated the commanding officer, FOB Badagry, for delivering as promised.
Fingere told journalists that the next step is to commence an investigation. “We will take it up from here.
“We will do all that we should do to ensure that the culprits are apprehended and that justice is done and taken to its logical conclusion.”
Describing their chairman as a game changer, Fingere acknowledged their news and innovative means of approaching the problems.
He noted: “Our chairman told us to go beyond enforcement, arrest, seizure, and prosecution but begin to enlighten the young ones who think drug is the way to it.
“Our programme, War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), takes us to different institutions to spread the message to the youths.”
