The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, handed over 72 Bags of Cannabis Sativa to the officials of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Marine Command, for further investigation.
The marijuana was intercepted during the ongoing Operation Water Guard along Elegushi area of Lekki. It was learnt that each bag weighs 40 kilograms.
The Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Apapa disclosed that the contrabands were intercepted on 5th June 2024 by NNS BEECROFT Quick Response Team and Deep Blue Assets of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He added that the arrest was made possible by the unrelenting efforts of the Base at gathering actionable intelligence and maintenance of presence in Lagos waterways, under the tenets of Operations WATER GUARD.
Commodore Oladejo explained that the effort was a sequel to the Strategic Directive of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Admiralty Medal, to maintain a credible presence along Lagos waterways and adjoining creeks to rid the maritime environment of all forms of crime and criminality.
He further warned perpetrators of illicit drugs to desist from such acts as NNS BEECROFT will not rest on its oars to pursuing all criminal elements operating within its area of operation.
According to Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT said in a statement that the successful arrest of large quantity of cannabis sativa underscores the unwavering commitment of NNS BEECROFT to curtailing spread and use of illicit drugs among teaming youth which negatively affect their health and threaten national security.