BREAKING: Nigerian Navy intercepts N10b worth of cocaine

“Similarly, on 21 December 2021, NNS OSUN intercepted and arrested a Large Cotonou boat laden with 413 bags of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into Nigeria from neighbouring countries.

“Pertinently, five crew were arrested on board the large boat and investigation revealed that they were all foreigners.

“It is equally worthy of note that the smuggled rice is worth over N13million in the local market and this is to the detriment of Nigeria’s local content drive.

“NNS KANO arrested a large Cotonou boat with six crew laden with 125 x 250Ltrs drums with an unspecified amount of PMS.

“The suspects who are all foreigners are part of a syndicate who come to purchase stolen petroleum products to freight them to neighbouring countries for sale, to the detriment of the Nigerian economy.

“You may equally recall that NNS BEECROFT arrested MV Chayaree Naree and Karteria for trafficking of 32.9 and 13.65kg of cocaine on 9 and 28 October 21 respectively.

“The cocaine seized in both occasions were worth over N10 billion in the local market.

“These series of arrests reinforce the Nigerian Navy’s resolve of zero-tolerance to illegalities within the maritime domain in line with her constitutional mandate.

“Regardless of the festive season, the Navy did not relent in executing the mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, which is geared towards curbing illegalities thereby boosting national prosperity.”