The Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, Lokoja, has arrested a retired soldier and a civilian with over 400 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be hemp along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja Road in Kogi State.
The two suspects, a retired corporal in the army, Denis Foukorighe, and Paul Obor, along with the illicit substance, were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Friday in Lokoja.
The Commander, NNS Lugard Lokoja, Commodore Ugochukwu Ajulu, while parading the suspects disclosed that the illicit substance was loaded in a Honda Accord saloon car conveying them from Edo State to Garki, Abuja, for commercial purposes.
He added that the suspects, both natives of Benue State, were arrested on Tuesday during the navy’s check operations along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja Road.
Ajulu said, “We are here at NNS Lugard Lokoja to hand over the two culprits and the illicit substances weighing over 400kg including a Honda saloon car to NDLEA officials for onward prosecution in the law court.”
He noted that the naval checkpoints in Kogi had been active in line with the mandate given to them by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
The officer-in-charge of Strike Force, NDLEA, Kogi State Command, Superintendent of Narcotics, Olorunfemi Abolarinwa, who received the two suspects on behalf of the agency, said they would be investigated thoroughly before facing prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.
Punch