Navy seizes 351 bags of rice and other contraband in 5 months
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Naval officers in the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry, Lagos have seized illegal drugs and 351 bags of foreign rice from smugglers attempting to ferry them through the Badagry-Port Novo waterways.
They also confiscated 40 packs of Cannabis Sativa weighing 21 kilograms in the Badagry area, FOB Commander Captain James Otache disclosed when he handed the contraband to other government agencies.
He said the seizures were made in the past five months, both on land on the waterways, but no arrest was made because the smugglers fled when they sighted approaching naval patrol teams.
“In line with extant regulations and harmonised standard operating procedures, it is expedient that the items are handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies – the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC] and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency [NDLEA].
“They were arrested on Badagry Port Novo waterway and Badagry beach. Some of them were arrested on land in the course of our patrol. The suspects abandoned their items upon sighting our patrol ship,” Otache said.
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Warning to smugglers
“So far we haven’t arrested anyone. Our duty is to arrest and hand them to the appropriate prosecutor agencies to take necessary action.
“I want to sound a note of warning to the perpetrators of this heinous crime that we will not rest on our oars to put an end to these nefarious activities,” Otache added, per reporting by Vanguard.
He expressed appreciation to Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo for supporting the FOB and pledged the base would continue to “mount aggressive patrol until smuggling of this kind is brought to an end, and we will sustain our efforts until we see to that.”
NDLEA Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Hassan Ismail, who received the drugs, said the seizures attest to the synergy among the Navy, Customs, Army, and the NDLEA. He warned drug barons the NDLEA is determined to arrest them.
NCS Deputy Comptroller Enforcement Sunday Enogela, who received the bags of rice, thanked the FOB for the feat and expressed the determination of the Customs to stop the activities of criminals who smuggle rice and other banned items.