Navy arrests three suspected drug traffickers on River Niger

In a recent operation along the River Niger in Kogi State, the Nigerian Navy has apprehended three individuals suspected of drug trafficking. This was revealed in an operational report by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, on Thursday in Abuja. The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday by the crew of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard, following intelligence about the movement of an illicit drug shipment.

The suspects were discovered in possession of 71kg of a substance suspected to be Cannabis sativa, concealed within the rear compartment of a large wooden commercial vessel intercepted near Chintako Community Jetty in Bassa Local Government Area. The Navy captain disclosed that the suspects and the seized drugs were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kogi State for further legal proceedings.

The NDLEA representative stated that their investigation would aim to identify the source and ownership of the drugs, as well as those responsible for its supply. The naval spokesman emphasized the significance of intelligence-led maritime enforcement in disrupting the flow of illicit drugs through Nigeria's inland waterways, stating that this operation is a step towards bolstering the broader battle against organized criminal activities.