Navy Arrests Three Suspects, Intercept 1,209 Bags Of Smuggled Rice In Calabar

By Godwin Otang, Tribune Newspaper

The Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNSV) has arrested three suspected smugglers with one thousand, two hundred and nine (1,209) bags of illegally smuggled parboiled rice along the waterways.

The suspects and the goods have been handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service in Calabar, on Monday.

The suspects, Humble Edet, Christian Adebayo, and Balle Philip, were arrested by the personnel of the NNSV on patrol at 2 nautical miles, South East of the Calabar fairway buoy.

Briefing newsmen at the NNSV jetty on Monday in Calabar, Commander of NNSV, Commodore Chiedozie Okehie, said the suspects were arrested for conveying smuggled items into the country.

Okehie, represented by the Base Operation Officer, Lieutenant Commander Clement Ayogu, through the directives of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim averred that: “These suspects were arrested with a wooden boat laden with 1,209 bags of foreign parboiled rice at 2 nautical miles, southeast of the Calabar fairway buoy.

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“The suspects were arrested on September 11, 2021. We are handing over the suspects and the rice to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“From our interrogation, the suspects were smuggling in the items from Cameroon to Nigeria.

“I want to advise those involved in this illegal business to embrace genuine means of business and livelihood because the Navy is fully out to ensure that such illicit act is stopped”, he said.

The Commander thereafter, handed over the suspects and the items to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Receiving the items, Mr. Mustapha Kaliel, the Deputy Controller of Customs, Cross River/Akwa Ibom zone, commended the Navy for doing a thorough job along the waterways.

“We are going to prosecute the suspects accordingly, while the rice would be converted to seizure,” he assured.

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