Nigerian Navy Intercepts 32.9kg Cocaine On Vessel, Arrests 6 Asians

The Nigerian Navy has reported that one of its Ship, NNS BEECROFT, has intercepted 32.9kg of cocaine on a vessel, MV Chayanee Naree.

The Naval authorities further stated that the vessel and its crew including about six Asians were arrested.

The vessel which was said to have come into the country from Brazil allegedly had the narcotic substance in 30 slabs inside a bag kept in the vessel’s Cargo Compartment One.

It was gathered that naval operatives acting on credible intelligence from International Police (Interpol), monitored the vessel said to have left Santos, Brazil on September 19.

The ship, it was learnt, was first spotted about 250 nautical miles off the coast of Benin Republic on October 1, where it drifted for about a week before sailing into Nigerian waters.

Briefing journalists at a joint press conference on Thursday, Commander, NNS BEECROFT Commodore Bashir Mohammed, said the interception was possible because of collaborative efforts between the navy, Interpol, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

He said the vessel was arrested by NNS EKULU upon entry into Nigerian waters, adding that the navy had trailed its movement through the FALCON EYE Maritime Domain Awareness system.