Navy Captures Foreign Rice Smuggled Through Cameroon

In the state of Akwa Ibom, the Nigerian Navy has stopped a boat that was smuggling foreign rice into Nigerian waters via Cameroon.

Men of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the state on Monday handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service two suspects, 38 bags of parboiled rice and the boat involved in the alleged smuggling.

The Commanding Officer, FOB, Ibaka, Navy Capt Uche Aneke said the suspects were arrested 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 Custom, Bolaji Ajao, said that the team would take the suspects for further investigation and prosecution.

“Nigeria Navy has always support us, we will continue to appreciate them support each other and work together,” Ajao affirmed.

Credit: Vangaurd