By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The Navy in Akwa Ibom has arrested 54 suspects and siezed 3,378 bags of smuggled rice from the suspects in the month of October 2019.
It said the smuggled rice which is
worth about fifty seven million, four hundred and twenty-six thousand naira (57,426,000) were seized alongside 14 wooden boats within the four weeks period.
Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base,
Ibaka, Mbo local government area Captain Peter Yilme told newsmen yesterday that 389 and 261 bags of 50kg rice, as well as 8 suspects and 2 wooden boats were brought in from the Republic of Cameroon.
Yilme added that they were arrested on October 27 and 29 respectively around parrot island along along Calabar Channel and Effiat waters ways during a patrol by Navy gunboats .
Handing over the suspects and items to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Yilme who was represented by the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Kabiru Yusuf, said the command will remain steadfast in fighting illegalities on the waterways.
The Commander maintained that the base wouldl not relent in going after persons who continue to engage in rice smuggling despite the Federal Government’s directives against the importation of foreign rice.
“The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka hereby hands over two medium sized wooden boats laden with 389 and 261 bags of rice arrested at parrot island to the Nigeria Customs Service.
“The wooden boats along with its 8 crew were arrested at about 0345 hours and 0230 on 27 and 29 October 2019 during a routine patrol by the Navy boats.” He said.
Receiving the suspects and items, Deputy Superintendent of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alabi, Adedokun commended the Navy for the cooperation existing between them, and for the frequent arrests.
