KEY POINTS
- Nigerian Navy arrests 27 suspected drug peddlers (24 males, 3 females) in Lagos operation.
- Raided Gidan Drama hideout in Apapa based on intelligence, seized illicit substances.
- Suspects handed to NDLEA as part of broader interagency drug control efforts.
The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft has apprehended 27 suspected drug traffickers during a coordinated operation in Lagos’s Apapa area.
The raid, conducted on April 5 at Gidan Drama along Malu Road, targeted a known criminal hideout following credible intelligence reports.
“The operation led to the arrest of 24 male and 3 female suspects found in possession of hard drugs and other illicit substances,” revealed Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, NNS Beecroft spokesperson. ‘The suspects have been handed over to the NDLEA for prosecution, marking the latest effort to combat drug-related crimes in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Crackdown highlights Navy’s role in national drug control efforts
The operation forms part of “Operation MESA,” an interagency security initiative targeting criminal networks across Lagos. Naval authorities emphasized the raid’s significance in protecting public health and national security. “This successful operation underscores our commitment to curtailing drug abuse among youths,” Ibrahim stated, noting the devastating social and economic consequences of substance abuse.
According to Channelstv, Local residents reported increased naval patrols in Apapa in recent weeks, with security forces focusing on areas notorious for drug trafficking.
The raid comes as Lagos experiences rising cases of drug abuse, particularly among young people. NDLEA records show a 22% increase in arrests in Lagos during the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024.
Community leaders have welcomed the intervention, though some activists caution against potential rights violations during such operations. “While we support security efforts, arrests must follow due process,” said human rights lawyer Adeola Fagbemi. The Navy has assured all procedures were properly followed during the raid.
