An inter-agency collaboration between the Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigeria Navy has resulted in the seizure of two boats laden with smuggled rice.
A statement by the group said the seizure was made on the Calabar high sea, Cross Rivers State, by the navy between the Cameroon and Nigerian border.
It read, “The smuggled rice was carefully concealed in two boats conveying 30 passengers among whom were eight Cameroonians and 13 Nigerians.
“The seizure has since been handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service in Calabar, while the passengers of the boats were in the same vein handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation.”
The Customs Area Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Usman Bello, had recently during the 2016 Obangame exercise organised by the Nigerian Navy comprising other law enforcement agencies, had appealed to the navy to assist the NCS in effecting seizures of contraband goods on the high seas.
Bello thanked the navy for their cooperation so far, urging them to continue in this regard.
He lamented the inability of his command to patrol the high seas due to lack of sea going vessels.
“There is a need for continued assistance from the navy in order to reduce smuggling to the barest minimum, especially on the high seas within the Eastern Marine Command.
“I thank the outgoing Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, for the sustained cooperation and synergy between the Navy and Customs. We wish him well in his new assignment.”
He also extended a warm welcome to the new FOC, Rear Admiral J. Olawale, urging him to sustain the cooperation and collaboration of his predecessor.
In the same vein, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali(retd.) has expressed his profound gratitude to the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Eke Ibas, for the operational commitment and inter agency cooperation exhibited by his officers in the arrest of the two boats.
The CGC urged the Nigerian Navy to continue to assist the NCS in the service of the nation.
In a similar development, the Seme Area Command of the NCS has impounded 12 trucks containing 2,131 bags of 50kg rice with a Duty Paid Value of N23.9m.
The imported rice was reportedly smuggled through Ere-Creeks, bordering Lagos and Ogun states.
A statement from the command said its officers had received intelligence that the rice was stocked in an uncompleted building at Ere Creek-Ikoga.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Victor Dimka, said investigation was ongoing to expose the perpetrators of this act.
He said, “We will continue to work round the clock to suppress all smuggling activities across the frontier to the barest minimum. We will not relent until the needed revenue is generated and legitimate trade is facilitated.”
Dimka commended the efforts of the enforcement unit in suppressing the illegal importation of used vehicles.
“Fairly used vehicles escorted in transit to Seme border, which pay duty contribute about 50 per cent of the command’s revenue,” he added.
