Drug Trafficking: Navy intercepts over N10billion worth of cocaine, cannabis

*The Nigerian Navy says naval operatives arrested some drug traffickers, smugglers of contraband items, and stolen petroleum products within the maritime environment during patrols

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Navy, in the course of our patrols to tackle illicit drug trade and substance abuse, has said it arrested some drug traffickers, smugglers of contraband items, and petroleum products within the maritime environment in the West African country.

ConsumerConnect reports Rear Admiral Bashir Mohammed, Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, who disclosed this development to reporters Thursday, January 6, 2022, at the parade ground, in Apapa, Lagos State, said the Navy had intercepted N10billion worth of cocaine October 9 and 28, 2021.

Rear Admiral Mohammed also said that the Naval operatives intercepted and seized 261 bags of cannabis worth over N100million in the local market during the last Yuletide.

According to him, 413 bags of foreign rice and over 150 drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) being smuggled into Nigeria during the Yuletide were also confiscated during patrols.

“We enjoyed a relatively peaceful Yuletide season.

“However, in the course of our patrols, the Navy intercepted and arrested some drug traffickers, smugglers of contraband items and petroleum products within the maritime environment,” noted the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft.

“On 17 December, 2021, NNS ABA arrested a large fibre boat conveying items suspected to be Cannabis bagged inside 261 large sacks.

Mohammed further stated: “It is worthy to note that the suspected cannabis seized is worth over N100million in the local market.

It is as well recalled that the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Maduabuchi Chinedu, a 32-year-old drug trafficker based in Liberia, late November 2021, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), in Abuja, FCT, with 9.30 kilogrammes of cocaine worth over N2.7billion in street value.

The suspect, who hails from Obaha, Okigwe village, in Okigwe Local Council of Imo State, lives in Liberia, where he reportedly works as a miner.

The NDLEA said its operatives apprehended Chinedu during an inward joint search of Ethiopian Airlines flight 911, at the Abuja airport Wednesday, November 24, 2021, with 9.30kg cocaine with each pellet wrapped in candies wraps and concealed in his luggage.

The suspect, however, noted that economic pressure and the need to raise money to treat his mother for an eye problem had pushed him to seek help from a friend in Liberia, who introduced him to another friend based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who eventually gave him the drug to deliver in Abuja for a fee of N1million.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NDLEA, who commended the officers and men of the NAIA Command of the agency for their vigilance and working in synergy with other security agencies, urged them to always remain two steps ahead of merchants of death.

Drug traffickers are daily getting more desperate to make money at the expense of the  wellbeing of Nigerian consumers and the country’s image in the international system.

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