The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has recorded another operational success in its ongoing efforts to curb the spread of illicit drugs and enhance maritime security within Lagos State and its coastal communities.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, 6 October 2025, the Executive Officer of NNS BEECROFT, Captain Idongesit Udoesien, who represented the Commander, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, disclosed that in the early hours of Thursday, 2 October 2025, the Base Quick Response Team (QRT), supported by internal security personnel of Operation MESA, intercepted a van with a foreign registration number around Ijegun, Lagos.
According to Captain Udoesien, the interception followed credible intelligence, and upon inspection, the vehicle was found to be laden with 20 bags of suspected cannabis, weighing approximately 840 kilograms. The suspects reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the patrol team.
He added that both the vehicle and the recovered cannabis sativa have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), represented by Marine Commander Morrison Emmanuel Udo, for further investigation and necessary action.
Captain Udoesien emphasized that the operation reflects the Nigerian Navy’s sustained commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to clamp down on all forms of illegal maritime activities, particularly narcotics trafficking and contraband smuggling through Nigeria’s coastal waters.
“The Nigerian Navy remains actively engaged in supporting internal security operations and collaborating with sister agencies to protect lives, property, and the nation’s maritime domain,” he stated.
He assured that NNS BEECROFT would continue to intensify surveillance, patrols, and intelligence-driven missions aimed at denying criminals freedom of operation within Lagos waterways and adjoining creeks, thereby promoting socio-economic activities in the region.
Captain Udoesien commended the vigilance and professionalism of naval personnel and urged members of the public to support security agencies with credible information to further enhance safety across Lagos State.
