Navy hands over six suspected smugglers, 126 bags of rice to Customs

The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB), Akarakumo, Badagry, Lagos on Thursday handed over 6 suspected smugglers and 126 bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Navy Captain Linus Osuman, the Commanding Officer, FOB Badagry, said the suspected smugglers and three fibre boats filled with bags of foreign rice were intercepted at about 8.00.p.m, on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 at Akere Creek, Badagry.

According to him, the Base got an intelligence report that some bags of foreign rice were being moved to Akere community in Badagry.

“On getting this information, the Base quickly deployed its Quick Response Team to the area for interception.

“126 bags of foreign rice were intercepted and 6 suspected smugglers were also arrested and brought to the base for further investigation.

“The adjoining communities were also searched but no smuggled products or suspects were found,” he said.

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The commanding officer said the suspects and bags of foreign rice would be handed over to NCS officials at Semé Command.

Osuman said that the arrest was made possible by the unrelenting efforts of the Base in gathering actionable intelligence and its sustainable presence on the waterways in line with the dictates of the ongoing Operation Water Guard.

“As we all know that smuggling is detrimental to the nation’s economy and it leads to loss of revenue and harms local production capabilities.

“Also, proceeds from smuggled goods are used to sponsor criminality in the country.

“These sustained efforts of the FOB Badagry demonstrates its unwavering commitment to maritime security within its Area of Operations.

“These efforts are all geared towards complying with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s Strategic Directive 2023-6, which is to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

Osuman said that the Nigerian Navy (NN) would continue to collaborate with the NCS and relevant agencies to ensure that the nation’s maritime domain is permissive to legitimate business.

He added that it would also ensure security of legitimate trade both on the waterways or in connecting literal areas.

Receiving the suspected smugglers and bags of foreign rice, Assistant Comptroller Imam Shehu, the Officer in Charge of Enforcement, Semé Area Command, NCS, commended the NN for ensuring safety on the waterways.

Shehu said that NCS and Navy had a strong tight synergy, adding that the collaboration between the two agencies would continue.

He said the six suspected smugglers would be charged to court, while the foreign rice would be condemned to the court of justice and later auctioned to the public.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE