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Navy Arrests Nine Smugglers, Impounds Boat In Akwa Ibom

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Nigerian Navy in its operation

The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, arrested nine smugglers and seized boats used for illegal oil bunkering and smuggling of contraband goods into the country.

Naija News gathered that the FOB seized 62 drums of Automotive Gas Oil, which were moved in a wooden boat from Rivers State into Akwa Ibom waterway around 5:30am.

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The names of the four suspected hoodlums apprehended by the navy in the operation were given as; Nsidebe Monday, 26; David Etim, 31; Oto Bassey, 29, and Benjamin Abia, 40.

The navy also seized 271 bags of illegally imported rice from Cameroon at about 5:30am on Friday, during a routine sea patrol at Parrot Island in Mbo LGA.

Some of those arrested in the operation were Asuquo Etim, 42; Victor Okon, 26; Nsika Okon, 22; Godwin Asuquo, 19; and Esio Okpohobia, 20.

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The Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Yusuf Idris, said on Sunday in Ibaka that the Navy would continue to intensify its efforts in getting rid of illegalities in the waterways.

“If you can remember, on Tuesday and Friday, we handed over smuggled bags of rice to the Nigeria Customs Service. During that handing over, I made a promise that the Nigerian Navy under the present leadership will not relent till our waterways are rid of all illegalities.

“I’m sure we have lived up to our promise because this week alone, we have made three arrests and we will continue to make more arrests and seizure as long as the illegalities and criminals are not willing to stop,” he said.

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