Border Closure: Navy Seizes 2089 Bags Of Rice
... Arrests 2 Nigerians, 4 Cameroonians for alleged smuggling
From Bong Aniekan, Calabar
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory have intercepted 2089 bags of smuggled rice worth about N115, 581, 000.00.
Besides, six suspects comprising four Cameroonians and two Nigerians were also arrested.
This was disclosed by the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, Rear Admiral Vincent Okeke while handing over the suspects alongside the smuggled rice to the Commander of Operation Swift Response, Ali Madaki.
He said the bags of rice were intercepted in three separate occasions in the past nine weeks.
“On Saturday, December 28, 2019, NNS Victory patrol team arrested six men suspected to be rice smugglers at Utan Creek off Tom Shot Island aboard a large wooden boat and upon disembarkation recovered 631 bags of rice.
“Earlier on Thursday, December 26, 2019 another large wooden boat laden with 1, 408 of foreign parboiled rice was arrested at Okposo Creek off Tom Shot Island and the suspects on sighting the patrol team absconded through the creeks.
“Similarly, following a tip off, the base arrested 50 bags of rice on November 26, 2019 at the Safe Journey Jetty without suspects,” he said.
He added that in line with extant regulations, the six suspects, along with two large wooden boats and 2089 bags of rice are handed over to the Operation Swift response for further investigation and possible prosecution.
He said the base is undeterred by the antics of the smugglers particularly during the festive season and has intensified its patrols which has resulted in 10 major arrests of contraband including rice and illegally refined AGO worth 351, 817, 000.00.
He assured that the Nigerian Navy is committed to discharging its constitutional roles and also actualizing the vision of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral IE Ibas which is focused on enhancing national prosperity and security.
He also called on the “Fourth Estate of the Realm” to continue sensitizing rice and other contraband smugglers on the need to desist from their nefarious activities which continue to undermine the nation’s economic growth and prosperity.
Ali Madaki, a superintendent of customs and team leader of Operation Swift response said the suspects will be prosecuted.
“The suspects will be taken to the legal office for prosecution and proper arraignment in court while the rice will be taken to government warehouse for proper documentation and further action”, he said.
He commenced the Nigerian Navy for their cooperation saying the synergy will make it difficult for smugglers.
The six suspects comprise Michael Samson and Kayode Isaac (Nigerians) while Tafili Redovili, Ayiseh Innocent, Making Emmanuel Achilles and Villa Earnest Nwana are Cameroonians.
