According to the Nigerian Navy's Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka in Akwa Ibom, during a regular patrol operation, 64 bags of illegally obtained rice were detained.
This information was provided by the Base Operating Officer, Lt.-Cdr. Daniel Onyemaeze, during the Thursday in Ibaka delivery of the bags of rice to the Nigeria Customs Service.
He claimed that between September 22 and September 27, the package was discovered on the Mbo River after the smugglers fled, leaving the rice and their boat behind.
Onyemaeze promised that the navy will not give up on stopping economic sabotage and other illicit operations on the waterways of Akwa Ibom.
He said that the seizure was in line with the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, to end oil theft and smuggling through the waterways.
“In compliance with the provisions of Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures on arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels and persons in Nigerian’s Maritime Environment 2016 and on behalf of Nigerian Navy FOB, Ibaka, I hereby hand over 64 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice to Nigeria Customs Service for further investigation,” Onyemaeze said.
The consignment was received by Mr Kikems Danbana, a Superintendent of Customs in charge of the Joint Border Patrol Team, Oron axis.
Danbana commended the navy for their collaboration with the customs service to tackle smuggling.
“This is not the first time, we have been coming here several times for handing over foreign parboiled rice”, he said.