The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Mbo local government area, Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday arrested 5 suspected rice smugglers and seized about 424 bags of smuggled rice.
The bags of rice which were seized from two different operations were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service.
Speaking in Ibaka during the hand-over of the items to the Nigeria Customs Service, Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Toritseju Vincent, explained that navy officials on patrol arrested 5 suspects with 294 bags of rice on August 17, 2019.
He further explained that in the second operation, the suspectsescaped on sighting the navy gunboats, andleft behind their wooden boat with 130 bags of rice which they seized.
Meanwhile, the 5 suspects and 294 bags of rice were handed over to the Deputy Superintendent of Nigeria Customs, K. Alabi, while the 130 bags of rice were handed over to the Assistant Controller, NCS, Ali Garko.
According to Vincent, “On Friday, the 24th of August at about midnight, our gun boats on routine patrol at Effiat and Ayewa accosted a wooden boat with 130 bags of illegally smuggled rice from Cameroon. The suspects on sighting the gun boats dived into the water, abandoned the boat and were able to escape, but we were able to retrieve the boat back to the base.
“In line with our continuing constitutional role for anti smuggling of contraband goods. As you are well aware in conjunction with the Navy, over the past months we have continued to make various arrests of these illegally smuggled goods into the country.
“We will not rest on our oars but will continue to perform this role as we send out this stern warning to these illegal smugglers to desist from this act which is economic sabotage to the nation.
“On behalf of the flag officer commanding the Eastern Naval Command, I hereby hand over these 130 bags of rice and the wooden boat to the Nigeria Customs Service.”
Receiving the suspects and items from the Nigerian Navy, Assistant Controller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ali Garko said, “On behalf of the Comptroller, Eastern Marine Command, I hereby take over 130 bags of 50kg rice from the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka
