Security: NDLEA to establish marine unit

Apparently worried about the influx of illicit drugs through the Lagos waterways, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is set to establish a marine unit.

Seme Area Commander of the NDLEA, Sir Udotong Essien, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos during the handing over of 62 bags of cannabis from the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Essien said that the agency has observed the influx of illicit and harmful drugs through the creeks, thereby prompting the agency to set up a marine unit to assist other government agencies in beachcombing the creeks.

According to him, some officials of the NDLEA are currently been trained on marine technicalities to further assist other security agencies on the waterways.

He noted that a commander has already been appointed to head the marine unit and the department will be saddled with the responsibility of patrolling the waterways on 24 hours basis.

“As a result of the influx of smuggled hard drugs into the country, I am pleased to inform you that NDLEA is coming up with its maritime unit because we are not resting on our oars,” Essien said.

The commander said the narcotics agency is ready to synergise with the marine police, the Customs, Nigerian Navy and other security outfits.

He said that smugglers no longer have any safe corridor on the highways and when its marine unit comes on stream, there will be more effective lock down of their operational routes.

He commended the marine unit of the Customs for the huge seizures of cannabis recorded in the last two years.