Nigerian Navy Intercepts Van Laden with 840kg of Cannabis in Lagos

Nigerian Navy Intercepts Van Laden with 840kg of Cannabis in Lagos

The Nigerian Navy has intercepted a van loaded with 20 bags of suspected cannabis sativa weighing about 840 kilograms in the Ijegun area of Lagos State.

Speaking to journalists, Captain Idongesit Udoesien, the Executive Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, who represented the Commander, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, said the operation took place in the early hours of Thursday, October 2, 2025.

According to him, the interception was carried out by the Base Quick Response Team (QRT) with support from internal security personnel under Operation MESA, following credible intelligence.

> “Upon sighting our patrol team, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled. The van, which bore a foreign registration number, was later found to contain 20 bags of suspected cannabis,” Udoesien stated.

He added that the seized vehicle and the illicit substance had been handed over to Marine Commander Morrison Emmanuel Udo of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos Command, for further investigation and action.

Captain Udoesien emphasized that the successful interception forms part of the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing efforts to curb the spread of illicit drugs and strengthen maritime security within Lagos and its coastal communities.

He reiterated the Navy’s commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to clamp down on all forms of illegal maritime activities, including narcotics trafficking and smuggling through Nigeria’s waterways.

> “NNS BEECROFT will continue to intensify surveillance, patrols, and intelligence-driven operations to deny criminals the freedom to operate within Lagos waterways and adjoining creeks, thereby enabling socio-economic activities to thrive,” he said.

The Nigerian Navy also commended the vigilance and professionalism of its personnel and called on residents to support ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible information to relevant authorities.