Navy Intercepts smuggled Rice boats

In a press release made available on Monday by the Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Julius Uzowuru, during the 2016 Obangame Exercise organized in Calabar by the Nigerian Navy which comprised other law enforcement agencies and the media, stated that the Nigerian Navy had assisted in intercepting two boats with smuggled rice in Calabar, Cross River.

“The seizure of rice, which was made recently on the high sea by the captain of a Naval Ship, Navy Commander A. O. Ojebode of the Eastern Naval Command between Cameroon and Nigeria’s border, was carefully concealed in two boats conveying 30 passengers among whom were eight Cameroonians and 13 Nigerians.

“Meanwhile, the seizure has since been handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service in Calabar, while the passengers of the boats were in same vein handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the Customs Area Controller of Eastern Marine Command, Comptroller Usman Bello, had solicited that the Navy should assist the NCS in effecting seizures of contraband goods on the high seas while expressing his delight at the seizure.

Bello, however, decried the inability of his command to patrol the high seas due to lack of sea -going vessel at the moment. He also asked the Navy for continued assistance in the collaboration exercise and reiterated the need to reduce smuggling to the barest minimum, especially on the high seas within the eastern Marine Command.