The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, Akarakumo, Badagry, Lagos, on Friday handed over 109 bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

In a statement, Navy Capt Linus Osuman, the commanding officer of the FOB, Badagry, said two fibre boats carrying 109 bags of foreign rice were intercepted by his men on January 6 in the Kposuko community along Badagry creeks.

“At about 11:30.p.m. on January 6, the Nigerian Navy FOB patrol team on routine patrol, acting on an intelligence tip-off, conducted a cordon and search around the Kposuko community along Badagry creeks.

“During the search, a total of 109 bags of foreign parboiled rice were discovered in two fibre boats around Harmony Jetty.

“The products were suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria from Benin Republic. No suspects were arrested as they fled on sighting own patrol team,” he said.

Mr Osuman said the 109 bags of foreign rice were being handed over to the deputy comptroller of customs, J.I. Ohagwu, the officer in charge of operations, Seme Customs.

He said this was in line with the Harmonised Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P)2016.

Mr Osman stressed naval chief Emmanuel Ogalla’s mission of maintaining and equipping a professionally competent and ethical naval force “while leveraging on all elements of national power for the effective defence of Nigerian’s maritime area of interest against all forms of threat in fulfilment of national security imperatives.

“Accordingly, these sustained efforts of the Nigerian Navy Forward  Operating Base, Badagry, are all geared towards complying with the stated mission as well as the CNS  Strategic  Directive  2023-6.

“This is to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea for economic activities to thrive.

“The efforts are also in line with the dictates of the ongoing Operation Water Guard,” he said.

(NAN)