The Nigerian Navy has arrested three suspected drug traffickers and recovered 71 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis during a patrol operation on the River Niger in Kogi State.
The suspects were apprehended by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard on September 8, 2026, following intelligence on the movement of an illicit drug consignment through the riverine route.
The operation was carried out near Chintako Community Jetty in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State, where the naval personnel intercepted a large wooden commercial boat.
A search of the vessel led to the discovery of the suspected cannabis, which had reportedly been concealed in its rear compartment in an attempt to evade detection.
The suspects, along with the recovered substance, were subsequently handed over to the Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on September 9 for further investigation.
The NDLEA is expected to investigate the source and ownership of the consignment and identify other individuals connected to its distribution.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to prevent the use of Nigeria’s inland waterways for the transportation of illicit drugs and other criminal activities.
The Nigerian Navy and the NDLEA have continued to collaborate on intelligence-led operations targeting drug trafficking and other forms of maritime crime across the country.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the latest seizure demonstrated the importance of intelligence-driven maritime enforcement in disrupting the movement of illicit drugs through the country’s waterways.
He added that such operations would contribute to broader efforts to dismantle organised criminal networks involved in the trafficking of illegal substances.
