Navy seizes 1.9 tonnes of cannabis, arrests 25 stowaways in Lagos
Nigerian Navy Seizes 1.9 Tonnes of Cannabis, Arrests 25 Stowaways in Lagos Operations
LAGOS — The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft has confiscated approximately 1.9 tonnes of cannabis and detained 25 stowaways found aboard commercial vessels in Lagos and surrounding waters, according to a statement made by Commodore Adams Aliu, the ship’s commander.
Aliu delivered the announcement on Wednesday during a maritime stakeholders’ meeting held at the officers’ mess of the Western Naval Command in Apapa, Lagos. Participants at the meeting emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration to address security challenges impacting maritime operations and local communities.
The drugs and arrests are part of the navy’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal bunkering, and other criminal activities in the maritime sector. Aliu characterized the security climate in the region as generally stable but underscored the importance of ongoing surveillance and increased cooperation among security agencies, maritime operators, government authorities, and host communities.
Details of the operations revealed that naval personnel recovered five bags of cannabis weighing 480 kilograms near Abule Odo, Lagos, on February 18, 2026. Additional seizures included other illicit substances such as tramadol and codeine at Idi Araba, Apapa. Aliu also noted that two bags of cannabis weighing 192 kilograms were intercepted at Ikare Island on April 28, and 11 bags weighing 756 kilograms were recovered off Alpha Beach at Wiliki Post on July 22. The seized drugs have been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
The commander reported that the 25 stowaways were apprehended at various locations, including Lagos Anchorage, Lekki Dangote Terminal, and Takwa Bay, and were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further processing.
Additionally, Aliu stated that other individuals detained during these operations have been referred to various security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. He highlighted that maritime offences are often linked to land-based criminal activities, making community involvement crucial in addressing security issues.
Aliu called for stakeholders to establish reliable channels for reporting suspicious activities and emerging threats and recommended the designation of security officers and improved communication for incident reporting.
Senbajo Idowu Abike, chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, expressed concerns regarding drug trafficking, child abuse, human trafficking, and the troubling rise of youth involvement in street gangs. Despite acknowledging that security has improved over recent years, Abike cautioned that criminal activities continue to pose a significant threat to residents, particularly schoolchildren.
