Lt. Cdr. Bitrus Zoaka, the base operations officer, represented the commanding officer, Navy Captain Augustus Amakiri.

He said the base’s patrol team intercepted the suspected hard drugs at about 11:33 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13, after a credible human intelligence of a storage facility containing illegal hard drugs suspected to be cannabis sativa.

“The hard drugs were kept at a location referred to as Tenshop, near a mosque opposite Iyafin community in Badagry.

“Upon receiving the intelligence, the base quick response team led by me covertly departed the base to the general area in question.

“Intensive search of the area led to the discovery of several sacks of products suspected to be cannabis sativa.

“The adjoining communities were also searched, but no illegal products or suspects were found,” he said.

Mr Zoaka said the handing over exercise was in line with the Harmonised Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P) 2016.

“Recall that the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Bala Hassan, on November 9, 2023, launched Operation Water Guard.

“This operation is aimed at denying smugglers and other criminal elements the freedom of action within Badagry General Area in order to ensure security and economic stability in the region while fulfilling the navy’s constitutional roles.

“Accordingly, these sustained efforts of FOB Badagry are all geared towards complying with the CNS Strategic Directive 2023-6, which is to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea for economic activities to strive,” he said.

Receiving the exhibit, Ogbogoh Emmanuel, the assistant commander of narcotics at the Seme Special Command of the NDLEA, promised that an investigation would commence on the seized items.

He commended the Nigerian Navy for the huge seizures, assuring them that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.

(NAN)