Navy arrests, hands over bags of smuggled rice to Customs

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT patrol team has intercepted a wooden fishing boat laden with bags of rice in the creeks of Agbara area of Lagos State.

A statement by the Base Information Officer, Sub Lieutenant HA Colllins, said the items which were intercepted during a routine patrol at about 5:30am on October 11 was aided by the state-of-the-art Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcon Eye Alignment.

She said the boat’s occupants, upon sighting the patrol team, abandoned the boat and fled.

“The patrol team effectively secured the boat, which was taking in water, and off-loaded a total of 44 bags of parboiled rice.

“Following established protocols, the 44 bags of rice were transported to NNS BEECROFT base and were handed over to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service for further necessary action.

“The Nigerian Navy would sustain efforts at enforcing custom laws and assist uphold government policies, which also includes empowering small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to flourish.

“The action of the Nigerian Navy at confiscating contrabands, particularly the prevention of importation of foreign rice into the country will undoubtedly boost efforts of local farmers towards revenue generation necessary to ameliorate poverty and food insecurity for economic prosperity.

“The Nigerian Navy under the watch of the Chief of the Naval staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla remains resolute at curbing all forms of maritime crimes toward bolstering national security and stability,” the statement said.