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 arrested on September 8, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) LUGARD following credible intelligence on the movement of an illicit drug consignment.
The Navy said 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 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi State Command, on September 9 for further investigation and prosecution.
According to the NDLEA representative, the investigation would establish the source and ownership of the consignment, as well as identify those behind its supply.
The Navy said the interception underscored the importance of intelligence-led maritime operations in curbing the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria’s inland waterways.
It added that such operations would further strengthen efforts to disrupt organised criminal activities across the country.
