…ARRESTED SUSPECTS, CANNABIS HANDED OVER TO NDLEA, NSCDC
Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft Quick Response Team (QRT) has decimated criminal gangs who attempted to smuggle Cannabis Sativa around Lagos anchorage.
The suspects, who operated with different wooden boats where intercepted at different locations with sundry items purportedly used for siphoning crude or refined petroleum products.
Disclosing these arrests and confiscations during a press briefing on Wednesday, 12th February, 2025 at the NNS Beecroft Headquarters, Apapa Lagos, the Commander, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, said the base between 10 – 11 February 2025 conducted several operations leading to notable arrest and seizures which has reinforced security in Lagos and environs.
He explained that on Sunday, 10th February, 2025, the Western Regional Control Centre of Falcon Eye Alignment successfully vectored NNS BEECROFT Quick Response Team (QRT) stationed at TARKWA BAY on suspicious movement of a large wooden boat around Lagos anchorage.
“The team intercepted a large wooden boat while it fled towards Benin Republic after a possible tip off. The boat had seven suspects onboard and contains 408 empty drums, three pumping machines and eight Yamaha 40HP outboard engines, an action that has prevented a significant economic loss.”
However, on Sunday, 10th February 2025, the Base QRT acting on credible intelligence on some boats used in smuggling of cannabis sativa arrested two suspects around Topo, Badagry axis, while on transit to assist suspected smugglers’ boat at sea.
“The suspects were arrested in a boat conveying 40HP Yamaha outboard engine and intercepted telephone conversation confirmed that the suspects had been contacted to supply the engine.
Relatedly, in the early hours of Tuesday, 11th February 2025, the Base intercepted 28 bags of cannabis sativa weighing over 756kg around Long Jetty, Ibeche Beach. No arrest of suspects was made as the culprits fled upon sighting the QRT.
Accordingly, all the arrested suspects and confiscated items have been handed over to National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in accordance with Nigerian Navy Standard Operating Procedure for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Commodore Nimmyel noted while highlighting the success of these operations, said it underscored the unwavering commitment of NNS BEECROFT to enforce the mandate of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to rid the maritime environment of all forms of crimes and criminality either singly or in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies.
As a result, Commodore Nimmyel has warned perpetrators of illegal oil bunkering and 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.
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