Navy arrests three suspected drug traffickers on River Niger

The Nigerian Navy has arrested three suspected drug traffickers and intercepted 71kg of a substance suspected to be Cannabis sativa during a riverine patrol along the River Niger in Kogi State.

This is contained in an operational report by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, issued on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Folorunsho, the suspects were arrested on Tuesday by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard following credible intelligence on the movement of an illicit drug consignment.

“The suspected cannabis was concealed in the rear compartment of a large wooden commercial boat intercepted near Chintako Community Jetty in Bassa Local Government Area,” he said.

He disclosed that the suspects and the recovered consignment were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi State Command, on Wednesday for further investigation and prosecution.

The Navy captain said the NDLEA representative stated that investigations would seek to establish the source and ownership of the consignment and identify those behind its supply.

The naval spokesman said the interception highlighted the importance of intelligence-led maritime enforcement in disrupting the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s inland waterways.

He said the operation was a step towards strengthening the wider fight against organised criminal activity.