The Nigerian Navy has handed over 72 bags of cannabis sativa, each weighing 40kg and four arrested suspects to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Marine Command.

This is contained in a statement by the base information officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Lt. Hussaini Ibrahim, on Tuesday.

The navy handed over three Ghanaians and one Beninois.

The commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, represented by the executive officer, Mutalib Raji, said the consignments were intercepted on August 25 by the Quick Response Team.

Mr Oladejo said the operation was sequel to credible and actionable intelligence received by NNS BEECROFT on suspicious activities of some criminal elements around the Lekki Beach axis.

He said this necessitated the deployment of the team to the area for intensive operation, resulting in the interception of 72 bags of cannabis sativa weighing over 2,880kh.

Mr Oladejo said the effort was sequel to the strategic directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment for economic activities to thrive.

“Interestingly, the team also arrested three Ghanaians: Godswill Zevor, Monday Kpomeja, Gbega Agbeko and a Beninois, Elugbe Philip.

“Perpetrators of illicit drugs are warned to desist from such acts as NNS BEECROFT will continue to pursue every criminal element operating within its area of operation.

“This successful operation is a testament to the unrelenting efforts of NNS BEECROFT to curtail the spread and use of illicit drugs among teeming youths, which negatively affect their health and threaten national security,” he said.

(NAN)