The Nigerian Navy have arrested six suspected rice smugglers and no fewer than 1,439 bags of rice were intercepted.
The suspects were arrested at Unyenge, Effiat and Mendoro creeks in Akwa Ibom State as a result of five patrol operations carried out by the Nigerian Navy personnel.
Captain Peter Yilme who is the commanding Officer of Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base, Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State revealed that two suspects were arrested on January 13 with 803 bags of 50kg rice, while 185 bags of rice was seized on Janaury 2 from suspects who escaped upon seeing the naval gunboats.
Yilme also disclosed that 286 bags of rice were seized from suspects who escaped on December 26, 2019 while 165 bags of rice were seized from four suspects arrested on December 23, 2019.
He said;
“I handover 1,439 bags of rice and six suspects to the Superintendent of Customs, Garuba Hassan, in line with the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff. We are committed to rid the waterways of all forms of illegalities.
“I commend the untiring efforts of the officers and ratings in ensuring the mandate and tasks of the Base are achieved. I also appreciate the immense effort of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral I. E. Ibas, for providing the necessary platform and logistic support for the Base to carry out its operations.”