A smuggling syndicate has reportedly been thwarted by the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry, resulting in the seizure of 27 bags of suspected Cannabis sativa.
At an official handover ceremony yesterday, Navy Captain Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Commanding Officer of Nigerian Navy’s FOB Badagry, made the announcement. The occasion marked the formal transfer of the confiscated items to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Special Area Command.
Adams-Aliu revealed that the illegal products, worth about N35 million were recovered following an intelligence tip-off. He said: ‘On Friday, September 2023, at about 19:00 a.m., the Nigerian Navy FOB Badagry got an intelligence of suspected smuggling activities.’
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‘The intelligence indicated that a boat was sighted offloading products suspected to be Cannabis sativa at Pako Beach close to Ajido, seaside of FOB Badagry Area of Operations.’
‘Consequently, the Base Quick Response Team, led by the Base Operations Officer and the Base Intelligence Officer proceeded immediately to the scene of the crime for investigation and possible arrest. On sighting the team, the smugglers abandoned the narcotics and fled.’
Adams-Aliu clarified that they had conducted operations in the surrounding communities without discovering any additional contraband or suspects. He went on to reveal that, in collaboration with other security entities, they were actively investigating to uncover the drug trafficking syndicate, apprehend its members, and bring them to justice.
Upon receiving the illegal goods, Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of Seme Area Command, Dinneys Fingere Owen, conveyed gratitude to Adams-Aliu for the dedicated interception work. Owen emphasised the initiation of investigations to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the contraband.
Owen made it clear that the NDLEA’s collaboration with sister agencies would persist, and their efforts would extend beyond enforcement to include more extensive awareness campaigns against drug abuse.
‘This is part of the reason the NDLEA introduced the War Against Drugs Abuse (WADA) initiative, which has seen the agency collaborate with organisations and institutions to preach the message against drugs,’ he said.