…HANDS OVER FOUR SUSPECTS, N216M WORTH OF CANNABIS TO NDLEA
By Okosun Dennis
Nigerian Navy’s determination to ensure that illicit drug trafficking within the Maritime Domain is stamped out, received a boost on Tuesday as the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft Commander, Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo handed four suspects and 72 bags of Cannabis Sativa with a street value of about N216,000,000 to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Marine Command, Lagos.
Handing over the suspects at the NNS Beecroft Headquarters, Harbour Road, Apapa, the Commander, who was represented by the Executive Officer, Navy Captain Mutalib Raji observed that illicit drug trafficking has impeded on National Security hence they are not relenting in their oars to cleanse the maritime domain.
Displaying the exhibits which consist of 72 bags of cannabis sativa, each weighing 40 kilograms, were handed over to the Deputy Commander Austin Opiepe, NDLEA, Marine Command, Lagos.
The suspects were all foreigners – three Ghanaians and one Beninoise, and were identified as Mr. Godswill Zevor, Mr. Monday Kpomeja, Mr. Gbega Agbeko and Mr. Elugbe Philip, a Beninose.
According to Cdre Rafiu Taye Oladejo, the arrest of the suspects would assist the NDLEA in their investigation on the source of these illicit drugs as well as the final destination of the consignments.
He added that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff CNS Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla would continue to strive to ensure that the Maritime Domain is cleansed from illegal activities so that legal businesses would thrive.
On whether the force is not worried about the constant arrest of drugs traffickers within the Maritime Domain, Cdre Oladejo reiterated “It’s a concern to us and bothers on National Security especially as the youths are involved in the intake of these illicit drugs and it’s having a tremendous toil on national security.”
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the suspects, Mr. Godswill Zevor, disclosed that he was paid N50,000 to transport the consignments to the Lagos harbour, revealing that the owner escaped of the cannabis sativa escaped by jumping into the water while they were arrested.
While commending the Nigerian Navy for their collaborative efforts, NDLEA Deputy Commander Austin Opiepe noted that the standardized and harmonized operating procedure galvanized into the arrest of the suspects and confiscation of the illicit drugs.
“These have been a great challenge and we would not forget to continue to commend the Nigerian Navy that has been carrying out their functions in supporting maritime agencies and organizations.
“Unfortunately, the security challenge in the North-East and the Sahel Region through Sudan to the Atlantic Ocean has witnessed illicit drugs trafficking of Colorado from Canada and some originating from Latin America through Ghana via Nigeria bounders as these criminal elements use the proceeds to purchase arms that has exacerbated banditry and terrorism,” Austin Opiepe disclosed.
Responding on how they dispose off seized drugs cum cannabis sativa, Opiepe further explained that “the law has a process which must be followed by carrying out discreet investigation, prosecution and conviction before the court would pronounce judgment before final destruction of the exhibits.”
In recent times, the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft Quick Response Team acting on actionable intelligence has intercepted hundreds of bags of cannabis sativa just as this present arrest was made around Lekki Beach axis.
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