The Nigerian Navy has arrested and seized 627 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice and 57 large parcels of cannabis in the Jegeme community along the Badagry Port-Novo waterways.
The smuggled items and a suspect were handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry on Thursday.
Addressing newsmen, the Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Nigerian Navy Base Badagry, Captain James Otache confirmed that NDLEA and NCS have mounted aggressive patrols aimed at protecting the national economy from economic saboteurs and drug traffickers.
“Not resting on our oars, and having the fact that these individuals are not relenting in their nefarious activities, our men have continued to monitor the waterways, creeks and Badagry Coastline to keep these unpatriotic individuals at bay,” Otache added.
In the course of operations with one of its ships, NNS SOKOTO, two boats loaded with 627 bags of foreign parboiled rice and a suspect were apprehended.
The FOB Badagry also effected the arrest of 57 parcels of Cannabis Sativa at Jegeme community along the Badagry Port-Novo Waterway.
Otache said the arrests would send a strong signal to both the local crime syndicate and their international collaborators that Nigeria is not a dumping ground for illegal goods.
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