The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, in Akwa Ibom State, has arrested three suspected drug dealers and impounded illicit drugs worth N500million.
This was revealed by Capt. Uche Aneke, the commanding officer of the base on Thursday, when he turned over the seized drugs and other industrial chemicals to the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), respectively.
Capt. Aneke stated that the suspects were apprehended on a boat on Monday, at approximately 11:50 am during a routine patrol of the Bendero and Uta Uyata areas.
“The boat was loaded with more than 125 sacks of industrial chemicals (crystalline ammonia) and 62 boxes of various brands of illicit substances.
“These included 820 tubes of pethidine (containing opium) and 24,800 bottles of codeine syrup, en route to Nigeria from the Republic of Cameroon with the intention of smuggling the controlled substances into Nigeria,” Aneke said.
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He warned persons or groups preparing to commit any form of crime in Nigerian waters to stop or face the repercussions.
Capt. Aneke stated that the navy remains committed to making sure that marine crimes are successfully eliminated under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
The NDLEA Deputy Commander in- charge of operations and training in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Monday Jatau, who received the suspects and illegal narcotics from the navy, stated that the agency would prosecute the suspects after detailed investigations.
