The Nigerian Navy has arrested three suspected drug traffickers and seized 71kg of suspected cannabis during a riverine patrol on the River Niger in Kogi State.
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard carried out the operation on September 8, 2026, following credible intelligence on the movement of an illicit drug consignment.
The naval team intercepted the substances, suspected to be Cannabis sativa, during a routine patrol near Chintako Community Jetty in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
The 71kg consignment was allegedly concealed in the rear compartment of a large wooden commercial boat.
The operation resulted from intelligence received on the movement of the suspected drugs through the inland waterway.
Following the interception, the three suspects and the recovered substances were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kogi State Command, on September 9, 2026, for further investigation.
An NDLEA representative said the agency would investigate the source and ownership of the consignment and identify those responsible for its supply.
Navy, NDLEA strengthen collaboration
The operation is part of the ongoing collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and the NDLEA to curb the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s waterways.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the latest seizure demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led operations in combating drug trafficking and other forms of organised crime.
He said the seizure “highlights the importance of intelligence-led maritime enforcement in disrupting the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s inland waterways and strengthening the wider fight against organised criminal activity.”
The Nigerian Navy and NDLEA have carried out several joint operations against illicit drug trafficking along Nigeria’s waterways and coastal routes.
The agencies recently intercepted another major consignment of suspected cannabis during an operation in Lagos.
The NDLEA said investigations into the Kogi seizure would continue to establish the origin of the drugs and identify other individuals who may be connected to the alleged trafficking operation.