The Maritime arm of the Nigerian Military, under Operations Calm Waters and Swift Response, said it has impounded 894 bags of foreign rice in Calabar.
The Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Benard Onyeuko, who disclosed this in a statement, said the anti-smuggling team also recovered “2x 90hp and 2 x 40hp outboard engines as well as 4 x pumping machines” from the smugglers.
The statement read: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria has recorded successes in the ongoing Operations Calm Waters and Swift Response coordinated by the Nigerian Navy. The successes recorded within the week include arrest and seizure of foreign parboiled rice.
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“The Forward Operating Base IBAKA anti-smuggling team intercepted and arrested a medium size wooden boat laden with 293 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice and 4 suspects. Other items recovered include 2 x 90hp and 2 x 40hp outboard engines as well as 4 x pumping machines.
“Similarly, the Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY anti- smuggling team intercepted and arrested a wooden boat laden with 601x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon and 4 suspected smugglers at Agbami Platform.
“The items recovered and suspects were handed over to the Department of Marine Police, Calabar, for further investigations and possible prosecution.”
