The Nigerian Navy has arrested three suspected drug peddlers and recovered 71 kilogrammes of substances suspected to be cannabis in Kogi State.
The suspects were intercepted while travelling in a boat carrying the suspected illicit consignment during a naval patrol operation.
It was gathered on Thursday that the interception took place along the River Niger in Kogi at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard stopped the boat and escorted it to the NNS Lugard jetty, where the suspects and recovered exhibits were taken for further processing.
The Acting Executive Officer of NNS Lugard, Commander Christian Ottah, disclosed the arrest during the handover of the suspects and exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lokoja.
He was represented at the briefing by the Commander of NNS Lugard, Commander Adesola Ojo.
Ottah said the operation showed the importance of reliable intelligence and cooperation among security agencies in tackling drug trafficking and other crimes on the waterways.
He urged riverine communities, boat operators and other users of the waterways to report suspicious movements to security agencies to enable timely intervention.
The commander added that NNS Lugard would maintain its collaboration with the NDLEA and other security agencies through increased surveillance, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to threats.
Receiving the suspects and exhibits, the Kogi State Commander of the NDLEA, Umar Yahuza, represented by the Commander of Narcotics, Tuki Andeshak, said the agency would investigate the consignment to establish its source.
Andeshak said the NDLEA would also work to identify the owner of the suspected cannabis, trace the supplier and bring other persons connected to the consignment to justice.
The three suspects and the 71kg of suspected cannabis were formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution.