Navy arrests 20 foreigners, 2 wooden bats carrying cannabis

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has arrested 20 foreigners, two wooden boats carrying 268 bags of cannabis while on routine patrol.

This was revealed in a press statement by the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Rear Admiral Bashir Mohammed, through the Information Officer of NNS BEECROFT,  Lieutenant E. Ephraim.

He said a further search of the boat revealed that the boat was laden with 268 bags of Cannabis worth over 120 million Naira, 3 drums of AGO each containing 200 liters, and 11 phones.

The seized contraband

He recalled that on January 14, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT arrested some foreigners and a wooden boat laden with 261 bags of cannabis, 413 bags of Rice, and petroleum products.

In the same vein, on Friday 21 January 2022 at about 1000, the Base patrol team arrested seven stowaways onboard MV CHESAPEAKE BAY at Tincan Island jetty, Apapa.

The arrested suspects said that they boarded the vessel through the rudder compartment of the vessel with the intention to travel to Germany.

Rear Admiral Mohammed disclosed that in the last 4 months about 81 foreigners have been arrested for various crimes such as smuggling of cocaine, marijuana, rice, and petroleum products.

“This arrest puts the figure of stowaways arrested by NNS BEECROFT in the last 4 months at 21”.

He stated that the cannabis and arrested suspects will be handed over to NDLEA and the stowaways will be handed over to the Nigerian Police Force and commanded the ships of the Western Fleet for their commitment and unalloyed loyalty in living up to the assigned responsibility of the Western Naval Command

He further added that the trend of foreigners from neighbouring countries infiltrating Nigeria’s maritime space with contraband is worrisome and the arrest will send a message to criminals of the Nigerian Navy’s resolve of zero-tolerance to illegalities.