The Nigerian Navy has arrested three suspected drug traffickers and intercepted 71 kilogrammes of substances suspected to be Cannabis sativa during a riverine patrol along the River Niger in Kogi State.
The suspects were apprehended on September 8, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) LUGARD following credible intelligence on the movement of an illicit drug consignment.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the suspected cannabis was concealed in the rear compartment of a large wooden commercial boat intercepted near Chintako Community Jetty in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects and the recovered consignment were subsequently handed over to the Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on September 9 for further investigation and prosecution.
The NDLEA representative said investigations would focus on determining the source and ownership of the consignment, as well as identifying individuals behind its supply.
The Navy said the interception underscored the importance of intelligence-led maritime enforcement in disrupting the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s inland waterways.
It added that such operations would contribute to strengthening the broader fight against organised criminal activities across the country.
