Nigerian Navy has intercepted a boat smuggling foreign rice through Cameroon into Nigerian waters in Akwa Ibom state.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that Men of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the state handed over 38 bags of parboiled rice, the boat involved in the alleged smuggling and two suspects to the Nigerian Customs Service.
The Commanding Officer, FOB, Ibaka, Navy Capt Uche Aneke said the suspects were arrested on 4 January following a hint on a boat conveying foreign rice suspected smuggled from Cameroon to Nigerian and transiting within waters under the FOB.
“Consequently, gunboats from the Base on routine patrols, through a stop and search operation were able to intercept two suspected smugglers in a fibre boat containing 38 bags of 50kg contraband foreign parboiled rice concealed under nine drums of 250ltrs empty drums covered with a canopy,” Aneke stated.
Aneke warned syndicates indulged in smuggling illegal consignment into or out of Nigeria or carrying out any form of criminality in Nigeria’s waters to desist forthwith.
Receiving the suspects along with the seized items, Superintendent of Customs, Bolaji Ajao, said that the team would take the suspects for further investigation and prosecution.
“Nigeria Navy has always supported us, we will continue to appreciate and support each other and work together,” Ajao affirmed