Navy Nabs 22 Thai Sailors For Smuggling Cocaine Into Nigeria

No fewer than 22 sailors of Thai origin have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy for smuggling 32.9kg of cocaine from Brazil to Nigeria.
The suspects, who are currently being detained at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, pending further investigation, were arrested on-board a ship named MV CHAYANEE NAREE by the Navy following an intelligence report from the UK Border Force.
It was learnt that the cargo ship left Santos in Brazil for Nigeria on September 19.
The Commander of Nigeria Navy Services, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Bashir Mohammed, said the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects was carried out through collaborative efforts between the Nigerian Navy, Interpol, Nigeria Custom Service, Nigerian Ports Authority and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). 
Mohammed said 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. 
“Upon entering Nigerian waters, the vessel was intercepted by Nigerian Navy Ship, EKULU and escorted to NPA Port where it was directed to berth on October 9, 2021 and taken into 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.
“The suspected vessel was thoroughly searched by a combined team of Nigerian Navy, Interpol Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency”, he said. 
Mohammed explained further that the search began on October 9, 2021 and at about 6pm on October 13, the efforts of the search team yielded results when a bag was found in the vessel’s cargo Compartment One.
He said tests conducted on the contents of the bag by the NDLEA confirmed the substance to be cocaine wrapped in 30 slabs weighing 32.9kg.
He said the substance had been handed over to the NDLEA while further search and investigation continue on the vessel. 
Also speaking, Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Ibrahim Malanta Yusuf, said it was gratifying to note that the success of the operation was as a result of the synergy between relevant agencies of government.