Navy Apprehends 12, Seizes 724 Bags Of Contraband Rice

The Nigerian Navy in Akwa Ibom State has arrested 12 suspects and seized 742 bags of contraband rice from them in four different operations.

The first set of arrest was of five suspects and 339 bags of 50kg rice, the second set also had five suspects and 301 bags of 50kg rice, while the third and fourth arrests had one suspect each, 41 and 43 bags of 50kg rice respectively. Other items seized from the suspects between May 1 and 3, 2019, include two wooden boats, two fibre boats, four outboard engines and four pumping machines.

Speaking yesterday in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the state during the handover of the suspects and items to the Nigeria Customs Service, Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Captain Toritseju Vincent, promised that the Navy would remain committed to its assigned role in checking illegalities on the waterways.

Two of the suspects, Edet Okon and his 17-year-old nephew, Raphael Edem, said they were only passengers on the boat when it was apprehended and are not part of the smugglers.

“I don’t know what is happening here. I boarded a boat in Cameroon to come and visit my sick sister and then I saw myself here. I don’t know the boat was carrying rice because I was in a rush to come down to Nigeria. I have been in Cameroon for three years” Okon said.

Edem, on his part said, “I have been living in Cameroon with my uncle for three years now. When my uncle told me my mum was sick, I boarded the boat to come to Nigeria but I did not know the boat was carrying rice, and I don’t know any of the people in the boat with me except my uncle, who I came with”.


Daily Trust: