The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry, Lagos, has handed over six suspected smugglers and 126 bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The suspects were intercepted on December 27 while attempting to smuggle the contraband through Akere Creek in Badagry. According to the FOB Commanding Officer, Linus Osuman, the Navy acted on intelligence reports and swiftly deployed its quick-response team to the scene.
Upon arriving, the team seized the 126 bags of foreign rice and arrested the six suspects, who were found with three fiber boats used for the illegal operation. Additional searches of nearby communities did not yield further contraband or suspects. Osuman emphasized the negative impact of smuggling on the nation’s economy, citing losses in revenue and harm to local agricultural production. He reiterated the FOB Badagry’s commitment to ensuring the nation’s waterways remain free from smuggling activities.
This operation showcases the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other relevant agencies to combat smuggling in the region and protect Nigeria’s economic interests.