A former soldier and a civilian were detained by the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, Lokoja, along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja Road in Kogi State, with over 400 kg of what was believed to be Cannabis Sativa, or Indian hemp.
The two suspects, Paul Obor and former Army corporal Denis Foukorighe, who are both from Benue State, were turned up to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency agents on Friday in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, along with the illegal material.
As Commodore Ugochukwu Ajulu, the Commander of NNS Lugard Lokoja, paraded the suspects, he stated that they had loaded the drugs into a Honda Accord sedan and were transporting the goods from Edo State to an area in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, for business use.
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According to him, they were taken into custody on Tuesday while the Navy was conducting inspections along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja Road.
Ajulu stated, “We are here at NNS Lugard Lokoja to hand over the two culprits and the illicit substances weighing over 400Kg to NDLEA officials for further prosecution in the law court.” The illicit substances also included a Honda salon automobile.
Ajulu noted that the Naval checkpoints in Kogi have been operating in accordance with the directive given to them by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, stating that the directive has started to yield results with the Tuesday’s interception of illicit drugs. However, he urged all security checkpoints in the state to be cautious of individuals transporting illicit substances through the state to other locations across the country.
Instead of engaging in illegal activities that might put them in jail, he advised young people in Nigeria to start legal enterprises that will allow them to live well.
The suspects will be thoroughly investigated before they are prosecuted in court to serve as a deterrent to others, according to Olorunfemi Abolarinwa, Superintendent of Narcotics and Officer-in-Charge of Strike Force NDLEA, Kogi State Command. She accepted the two offenders on behalf of the agency.
“It is undeniably true that a number of crimes are committed anywhere there are illegal narcotics. As an organization against illegal drugs, we will keep raising public awareness of the necessity to outlaw the sale of any illegal substance due to the harmful consequences it has on users. According to Abolarinwa