The Nigerian Navy has arrested 22 Thai sailors for allegedly trafficking 32.9kg of cocaine with street price of about N2.4 billion from Brazil to Nigeria.
The sailors were arrested on-board MV CHAYANEE NAREE by a joint security team following an intelligence report by UK Border Force.
The cargo ship reportedly left Santos in Brazil on September 19, 2021, and the UK Border Force garnered information that the vessel was sailing to Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen on Thursday, October 14; Commodore Mohammed said the joint security team, acting on credible intelligence from Interpol, naval officers, commenced tracking of a vessel, MV CHAYANEE NAREE, which was suspected of attempting to smuggle narcotics into Nigeria.
Mohammed said during the surveillance, it was discovered that the vessel departed Santos Brazil on September 19, 2021, and drifted for a week at a position about 250 nautical miles (463 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 she was directed to berth on October 9, 2021, and taken 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,” he stated.
“The suspected vessel was thoroughly searched by a combined team of Nigerian Navy, Interpol Nigeria, Nigerian Customs Service and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The Search began on October 9, 2021, and at about 6 pm on October 13, 2021, the efforts of the search team were rewarded when a bag was found in the Vessel’s Cargo Compartment One.
“Tests conducted on the contents of the bag by the NDLEA confirmed the substance to be cocaine wrapped in 30 slabs weighing 32.9 kg. Accordingly, the substance was handed over to the NDLEA while further search and investigation continued on every nook and cranny of the vessel.
The Commander, Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Ibrahim Malanta Yusuf, said the success of the operation was as a result of the collaborative efforts between the Nigerian Navy, Interpol Nigeria, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Customs Service.
He pledged to make more information available as the search of the vessel and investigation continue.
“The desired end state by all parties involved in the prosecution of all those involved in this nefarious act according to the laws of the land.” he stated.
All 22 crewmen are being detained on board the ship at the Lagos Port Complex while the investigation continued.