Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT has intercepted 44 bags of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country through Agbara creek in Lagos.
In a press statement, the Naval Base information officer, Happiness Collins, said the interception was made possible by the state-of-the-art Maritime Domain Awareness Facility called the Falcon Eye Alignment.
Collins said the boat’s occupants upon sighting the patrol team, abandoned their boat and fled.
She, however, said the patrol team secured the boat, which was taken in water and off-loaded the contraband.
“Following established protocols, the 44 bags of rice were transported to NNS BEECROFT Base and were handed over to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service for further necessary action.
“The Nigerian Navy would sustain efforts at enforcing custom laws and assist uphold government policies which also includes empowering small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to flourish.
“The action of the Nigerian Navy at confiscating contrabands and particularly the prevention of importation of foreign rice into the country will undoubtedly boost efforts of local farmers towards revenue generation necessary to ameliorate poverty and food insecurity for economic prosperity.
“The Nigerian Navy under the watch of the Chief of the Naval staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla remains resolute at curbing all forms of maritime crimes toward bolstering national security and stability,” she stated.
