The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT patrol team has intercepted a wooden boat ferrying 162 bags of contraband rice around Lagos Offshore area.
This move came about In line with Federal Government ban on the importation of rice, which the Nigerian Navy has continued to collaborate with the Nigerian Customs Service to help stop the activities of smugglers who attempt to import this commodity in a bid to sabotage the Nation’s economy.
Preliminary investigations by the Base revealed that the bags of rice were all foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country from Republic of Benin.
In line with the Nigerian Navy Standard Operating Procedures, the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT handed over the Cotonou boat and 162 bags of rice to the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Commander Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, Commodore Bashir Mohammed warned smugglers to steer off Lagos maritime environment or face the consequences. He further vowed that the Base would be relentless in its determination to bring an end to Rice smuggling within its Area of Operations in line with the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo Strategic Directive 2021-5.
He urged members of the public especially the host communities along the maritime environment to furnish the Base with credible information to assist in curbing the activities of criminal element and economic saboteurs.