By Dansu Goldmark Pentho The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy in Badagry has intercepted and handed over 287 bags of smugg...
By Dansu Goldmark Pentho
Navy Captain Oyeleye Omotayo, Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, made this known on Tuesday while transferring the confiscated goods. Represented by the base’s Operations Officer, Lt. Cdr. Bamidele Afolabi, Omotayo revealed that the seizure was part of the Navy’s intensified efforts to combat smuggling activities along the Badagry–Porto Novo waterways.
“The FOB Badagry has significantly disrupted the smuggling of foreign parboiled rice into the country through sustained operations,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the latest crackdown occurred in three separate operations on March 4, March 8, and March 19. During these operations, the Navy’s Quick Response Team seized 287 bags of foreign rice, ensuring they did not enter the Nigerian market illegally.
Following standard procedures, the Navy officially transferred the confiscated items to the NCS. The Seme Area Command received 71 bags, while the Western Marine Command took custody of 216 bags.
Captain Omotayo emphasized that these efforts align with the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to maritime security and inter-agency collaboration.
In response, Abubakar Adamu, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Enforcement at the Seme Area Command, commended the Navy for its proactive stance against smuggling, noting that such cooperation strengthens enforcement efforts.
Similarly, Benjamin Lumba, Chief Superintendent of Customs and spokesperson for the Western Marine Command, praised the collaboration, stating that continuous joint operations will make smuggling increasingly difficult.
The interception of the rice highlights the growing synergy between Nigeria’s security agencies in tackling illegal cross-border trade.
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