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Nigerian Navy intercepts 1,209 bags of smuggled rice, arrests 3 suspects

*The Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNSV) says it arrested the suspects for conveying prohibited consumer items into the country 

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For importing banned food items into the West African country, the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNSV) has arrested three suspects with 1,209 bags of unlawfully smuggled parboiled rice along the waterways.

ConsumerConnect reports the suspects, Humble Edet, Christian Adebayo and Balle Philip, on patrol at two nautical miles, South-East of the Calabar fairway buoy.

Bags of rice

Commodore Chiedozie Okehie, Commander of NNSV, at a media briefing at the NNSV jetty Monday, September 20, 2021, in Calabar, Cross river State capital, said that the suspects were apprehended for conveying smuggled items into Nigeria.

Okehie was represented by the Base Operation Officer, Lt. Commander Clement Ayogu, through the directives of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. Sanusi Ibrahim, agency report also stated.

He stated: “These suspects were arrested with a wooden boat laden with 1,209 bags of foreign parboiled rice at 2 nautical miles, south east of the Calabar fairway buoy.

“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 buisness to embrace genuine means of business and livelihood because the navy is fully out to ensure that such illicit act is stopped.”

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

Mr. Mustapha Kaliel, a Deputy Comotroller of Customs, Cross River/Akwa Ibom Area Command, commended the navy for doing a thorough job along the waterways.

Kaliel said: “We are going to prosecute the suspects accordingly, while the rice would be converted to seizure.”

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