Navy Seizes 405 Bags Of Contraband Rice, Arrests Five In Calabar

Suspected Smugglers (Photo Credit: The Nation)

A large wooden boat laden with 405 bags of contraband foreign rice, worth over N6 million naira, as well as five suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar.

Commodore Julius Nwagu, the Commander, NNS Victory, said the arrest was made along the Calabar Channel, while parading the suspects.

Nwagu disclosed that boat was coming in from Cameroon.

He said the Nigerian Navy is committed to the Federal Government’s policy on locally produced rice.

“The Federal Government has said there will be no importation of rice again to encourage local farmers and local production of rice. We have the land and everything it takes to produce our own rice. But some elements that do not support Federal Government policy are hellbent on smuggling.

“The Nigerian Navy being a promoter of our national interest, we are all out to ensure the policies are adhered to especially the issue of importation of rice. I want to emphasize that we are not going to relent in our efforts in ensuring that any smuggled item through our waters is caught.

“We warn all smugglers to desist. The money wasted on this is a great loss and the Navy is bent is on ensuring that problem is stopped in the country. We implore these people to look for something else to do instead of this because it would not get them anywhere. We are resolved that we shall not allow this to persist within our area of responsibility. The maritime domain awareness of the Navy is up and running and there would be no hiding place for such criminals” he said.

Omachi Joshua, Assistant Controller of Customs, in charge of the Eastern Marine Command based in Calabar, while receiving the goods and the suspects said the items would take to the government warehouse and the suspects would be prosecuted according to laid down rules.

“The bags of rice are subsequently forfeited to the Federal Government and they would take the matter to court for condemnation and whatever the government issues is what we would follow,” he said.