The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry has transferred five vehicles and hard drugs, including cannabis, tramadol, and codeine, to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The items were seized during multiple operations as part of the Navy’s ongoing commitment to combating illegal activities and ensuring maritime security.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Commanding Officer Navy Capt. Bitebobo Augustus Amakiri detailed the Navy’s efforts to uphold security in its area of responsibility (AOR). Between October 30 and the present, the FOB intercepted five vehicles attempting to smuggle Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and foreign parboiled rice, intended for illicit transport to the Republic of Benin and other destinations. Drivers of the seized vehicles abandoned them to evade arrest, leaving the Navy to secure the vehicles and contraband at the base.
Capt. Amakiri also highlighted operations targeting drug trafficking. On September 18, 2024, intelligence led to the discovery of hard drugs in Zango, Sème. Similar raids in Akrokoji and Akwekweme communities in Badagry West uncovered cannabis buried within compounds and concealed in homes. The seized drugs, including cannabis, bottles of codeine, and multiple cards of tramadol, have been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and disposal.
Assistant Commander Emmanuel Ogbogoh of the NDLEA, present at the handover, emphasized the agency’s commitment to thorough investigations. “We will unravel the perpetrators behind this heinous crime of drug trafficking,” Ogbogoh stated. He reassured the public of transparency in the disposal of the seized drugs, referencing recent public destruction of similar exhibits.
Lt. Commander Bitrus Zoaka, Operational Officer of FOB Badagry, reiterated the Navy’s vigilance against drug-related crimes. “This ceremony is a message to miscreants that FOB Badagry is relentless in its fight against drug smuggling,” he said, adding that the Navy remains steadfast in safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment as per the Chief of Naval Staff Strategic Directive 2023-6.
The Nigerian Navy’s efforts reflect a broader commitment to maritime security in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, aiming to curb illicit trade and its detrimental impact on the nation’s economy and society.