Navy seizes 1.9 tonnes of hashish, rescues 25 stowaways in Lagos

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft has intercepted about 1.9 tonnes of hashish in separate operations and arrested 25 stowaways aboard business vessels inside its space of accountability in Lagos and adjoining waters.

The Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Adams Aliu, Wednesday said this at a maritime stakeholders’ assembly held on the officers’ mess of the Western Naval Command in Apapa, Lagos, the place individuals referred to as for stronger collaboration to handle maritime and group safety challenges.

Aliu stated the operations had been a part of efforts to fight drug trafficking, smuggling, unlawful bunkering and different prison actions threatening safety within the maritime atmosphere.

He described the prevailing safety scenario as calm however requiring fixed monitoring and improved cooperation amongst safety businesses, maritime operators, authorities authorities and host communities.

Giving particulars of the operations, the commander stated 5 luggage of hashish weighing 480 kilogrammes had been recovered round Abule Odo, Lagos, on February 18, 2026, whereas illicit substances, together with hashish, tramadol and codeine, had been seized at Idi Araba, Apapa.

He added that two luggage of hashish weighing 192 kilogrammes had been intercepted at Ikare Island on April 28, whereas 11 luggage weighing 756 kilogrammes had been recovered at Wiliki Post, off Alpha Beach, on July 22.

The recovered substances had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for additional investigation.

Aliu additionally disclosed that the command arrested 25 stowaways aboard business vessels at totally different places, together with Lagos Anchorage, Lekki Dangote Terminal and Takwa Bay, earlier than handing them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service.

He stated different suspects had been transferred to related safety businesses, together with the police, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The commander emphasised that maritime crimes usually originate from or terminate on land, making group participation crucial to efficient safety operations.

He urged stakeholders to ascertain dependable channels for reporting suspicious actions and rising threats, whereas advocating designated safety officers, improved communication and coordinated incident reporting.

The Apapa native authorities chairman, Senbajo Idowu Abike, expressed concern over drug trafficking, little one abuse, human trafficking and the rising involvement of younger individuals in avenue gangs.

Abike acknowledged enhancements in safety in contrast with earlier years however warned that prison actions continued to threaten residents, notably schoolchildren.