Uche Cecil Izuora
The Nigerian Navy has arrested 3 suspected drug traffickers and intercepted
71 kilogrammes of substances suspected to be Cannabis sativa during a
riverine patrol along the River Niger in Kogi State.
The suspects were arrested on 8 September 2026 by personnel of NNS LUGARD
following credible intelligence on the movement of an illicit drug consignment.
The suspected cannabis was concealed in the rear compartment of a large
wooden commercial boat intercepted near Chintako Community Jetty in Bassa
Local Government Area.
The suspects and the recovered consignment were subsequently handed over
to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi State Command,
on 9 September 2026 for further investigation and prosecution. According to the
NDLEA representative, investigations will seek to establish the source and
ownership of the consignment and identify those behind its supply.
The interception highlights the importance of intelligence-led maritime
enforcement in disrupting the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s inland
waterways and strengthening the wider fight against organised criminal
activity.