Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Navy has arrested three 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 September 8, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard following credible intelligence on the movement of an illicit drug consignment, according to the Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
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 of Kogi State. The Acting Executive Officer of NNS Lugard, Commander Christian Ottah, who disclosed the development during a handover ceremony, said the naval patrol team intercepted the boat at about 4:30 p.m. on September 8. The boat was subsequently escorted to the NNS Lugard jetty, where the suspects and recovered exhibits were secured before being transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Ottah, who was represented by the Commander of NNS Lugard, Commander Adesola Ojo, said the operation was conducted under Operation Accord 3, a naval initiative aimed at curbing criminal activities along Nigeria's inland waterways. He stressed that the operation underscored the importance of intelligence sharing and collaboration among security agencies in tackling drug trafficking and other forms of criminality along the nation's waterways. "The operation demonstrated the importance of timely intelligence and inter-agency collaboration in combating drug trafficking and other maritime crimes," Ottah said.
The suspects and the recovered consignment were formally handed over to the NDLEA, Kogi State Command, on September 9, 2026, for further investigation and prosecution. The handover was concluded with the signing of the relevant documents and the formal transfer of the three suspects and the 71-kilogramme consignment to the anti-narcotics agency. The Navy spokesman said the interception underscored the importance of intelligence-led maritime enforcement in disrupting the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria's inland waterways and strengthening efforts to combat organised criminal activities.
Receiving the suspects and the suspected cannabis, the Kogi State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Umar Yahuza, represented by the Commander of Narcotics, Mr. Tuki Andeshak, said the agency would commence a comprehensive investigation into the seizure. Yahuza said the investigation would focus on determining the source of the suspected illicit drugs, identifying the owner of the consignment and tracing the suppliers involved in the alleged trafficking operation. He said the agency would strive to identify the owner of the consignment, trace the supplier and apprehend those responsible. The NDLEA representative indicated that investigations would seek to establish the source and ownership of the consignment, as well as identify those behind its supply.
The arrest comes amid sustained efforts by the Nigerian Navy to combat drug trafficking and other criminal activities along the nation's waterways. In August 2026, the Navy handed over 19 bags of seized cannabis to the NDLEA in Anambra State following intelligence-led operations. In July 2026, the Navy uncovered nine illegal refining sites and dismantled 23 dugout pits in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering an estimated 104,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil. The Navy has also intensified its campaign against oil theft and illegal refining through Operation Delta Sanity, with recent operations recovering thousands of litres of stolen crude and illegally refined products across the Niger Delta.
The interception of the 71-kilogramme cannabis consignment highlights the growing use of Nigeria's inland waterways as a conduit for drug trafficking. The River Niger, which stretches from the northwest to the Niger Delta, provides a vast and difficult-to-monitor network of routes that criminal syndicates exploit to move illicit goods across state boundaries. The concealment of the cannabis in the rear compartment of a commercial boat illustrates the sophisticated methods employed by traffickers to evade detection by security agencies. The success of the operation was made possible by credible intelligence, which enabled the naval patrol team to intercept the boat before it could reach its destination.
Ottah also urged riverine communities, boat operators and other waterway users to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies for appropriate action. He stressed that NNS Lugard would continue to collaborate with the NDLEA and other security agencies to strengthen surveillance, information sharing and response to security threats. The Acting Executive Officer reiterated the Navy's commitment to protecting lives, property and critical national infrastructure, while stressing that the three suspects should be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The handover of the suspects and the consignment to the NDLEA marks the beginning of the legal process that will determine their culpability. The anti-narcotics agency will conduct its investigation and, if sufficient evidence is established, charge the suspects to court. For the communities along the River Niger, the interception of the 71-kilogramme consignment is a welcome disruption of a criminal supply chain that has brought addiction and misery to countless families. For the Nigerian Navy, the operation is another demonstration of its commitment to protecting the nation's waterways from the depredations of drug traffickers and other criminal elements. As the investigation continues, the focus now shifts to the NDLEA, which must unravel the network behind the consignment and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
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