Metro
Navy hands over 470 bags of contraband rice, 7 suspected smugglers to Customs
The Nigerian Navy has handed over about 470 bags of contraband rice and 7 suspected smugglers to the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.
The bags of rice and suspected smugglers were handed over to the NCS in Mbo Local Government Area of the Akwa Ibom State.
According to reports, operatives of the navy were on routine patrol along the Nigerian waterways when five of the suspects and their wooden boat were intercepted with 308 bags of 50kg rice, while the two other suspects were intercepted and found with 162 bags of 50kg rice, said to be brought in from the Republic of Cameroon.
Speaking during the handover, Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Toritseju Vincent, said that the Nigerian Navy was committed in its fight against illegal activities on the country’s waterways.
“On behalf of the Commanding Officer of Eastern Naval Command, I hand over these five suspects, who were arrested on April 22, 2019 with 308 bags of smuggled rice, which were smuggled into the country from Cameroon, to you.
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“I also hand over a medium-sized wooden boat laden with 162 bags of rice impounded near Mbo River by Oron, Calabar channel to the Nigeria Customs Service. The wooden boat and its two crews were apprehended around 7.30am on Sunday, April 21, 2019, during a routine patrol by the navy gunboats,” he said.
A Deputy Superintendent of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kabir Ogah, who spoke on behalf of the Zonal Commander and the Assistant Comptroller, thanked the navy for the support and collaboration while receiving the suspects and the items.
“On behalf of the Zonal Commander, Assistant Comptroller and the Nigeria Customs Service in general, we wish to commend all your efforts in combating smuggling in our waterways.
“Your actions have demonstrated your commitment to the nation and the security of our waterways”, Ogah said.
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