By Olubunmi ISOKPEHI, Lagos
Committed to protect Nigerian territorial waters and national security, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), BEECROFT, Apapa, Lagos, has arrested and detained twenty two Thai citizens over attempt to smuggle 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil to Nigeria.
This information was disclosed by the commander NNS BEECROFT, Commander Bashir Mohammed in a chat with newsmen.
He said, “The suspects who are sailors, were arrested on-board MV Chayanee Nareev, by the joint team from United Kingdom Border Force, following an intelligent report.”
Adding, “It was learnt that the cargo ship left Santos in Brazil on September 19, 2021 and the UK Border Force discovered that the vessel’s destination was Nigeria. Thus, All 22-crew man have detained onboard the ship at the Lagos Port Complex, while investigation continued.”
Commodore Bashir Mohammed, asserted, “The brief was aimed at informing the public on a development within the nation’s maritime environment that concerns a recent sting operation conducted through collaborative efforts between the Nigerian Navy and other law enforcement agencies including the Interpol, the Nigerian custom services, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).”
Mohammed added, “The joint security team, acting on credible intelligence from Interpol, naval officers, commenced tracking of MV Chayanee Naree, which was suspected of attempting to smuggle narcotics into Nigeria.” However, “With the aid of the Nigerian Navy Falcon Eye Maritime Domain Awareness system, the security team started monitoring the movement of the vessel.”
He posited, “The investigation, it was discovered that the vessel departed Santos Brazil on September 19, 2021 and drifted for a week at a position about 250nm (approximately 500 kilometres) off the coast of Benin Republic from October 1 to October 8, before setting sail and arriving Nigeria on October 8, 2021.”
Mohammed said: “Upon entering Nigerian waters, the vessel was intercepted by Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU and escorted to Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) port, where she was directed to berth on October 9, 2021 and taken custody by the Navy. Thereafter, other agencies were invited to conduct an extensive and comprehensive search of the vessel for narcotics and other contraband items.”
His words: “The suspected vessel was thoroughly searched by a combined team of Nigerian Navy, InterPol Nigeria, Nigerian Customs Service and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The Search began on October 9,2021 and at about 6pm on October 13, 2021, efforts of the search team was rewarded when a bag was found in the vessel’s cargo compartment one. Tests conducted on the contents of the bag by the NDLEA confirmed the substance to be cocaine wrapped in 30 slabs weighing 32.9 kg.” Accordingly, the substance was handed over to the NDLEA while further search and investigation continued on every nook and cranny of the vessel.”
Speaking on the arrest and seizure, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Apapa, Command, Ibrahim Malanta Yusuf, said, “It is gratifying to point out that, the success of the operation was as a result of the excellent synergy and collaborative efforts between the NN, Interpol Nigeria, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Customs Service.”
The CAC added, “As the investigation progress jointly and the continuous search of the Vessel, additional information will be released to the press on the case.”
Malanta opined, “The desired end state by all parties involved is the prosecution of all those involved in this nefarious act according to the laws of the land.”
Those at the event include representative of the Chairman of NDLEA, Mrs. Mercy Thompson, the representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Head of Interpol Lagos, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Nwogwu Martin’s.
