The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS BEECROFT, on Tuesday handed over 193 bags of seized Indian Hemp to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, made this revelation while briefing newsmen, saying that a Naval patrol team seized the bags, weighing 38kg each from a 24-year-old Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamani, off Badagry Coast on March 16.
Oladejo said Asamani claimed not to know the destination to which he was ferrying the illicit drugs, but expressed optimism that the NDLEA would get to the root of it all during investigation.
He pointed out that there were inherent health dangers in the use of narcotics aside the fact that their use had led to increased crimes.
“Proceeds of sale of narcotics are often used to sponsor crimes in the maritime space and on land,’’ Oladejo said.
While receiving the contraband and the suspect, Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Marine Command, Mr Paul Ahom, appreciated NNS BEECROFT for taking the lead in policing crime and drug trafficking in Nigeria’s waterways.
“The Navy is the leading agency in the interception of drugs among maritime law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.
“It has provided evidence-based investigation for the NDLEA. The agency shall get to the root of the matter.
“We need to ascertain the source of the drug and identify the syndicate behind the ferrying of drugs from Ghana and Togo via Republic of Benin to Nigeria,’’ Ahom said.