The Nigerian Navy has intercepted 130 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice during an anti-smuggling operation along the Badagry waterways in Lagos State.
In a statement, the Navy’s spokesperson, Abiodun Folorunsho, said personnel from the Forward Operating Base in Badagry conducted the raid based on credible human intelligence regarding smuggler activity in the area.
“Acting on the intelligence, troops carried out a coordinated raid along the Panshi–Ijofin creeks leading to the Badagry–Porto Novo waterways at about 4:30 a.m. on May 6. Upon sighting the naval personnel, the suspected smugglers fled, abandoning their consignments,” Mr Folorunsho said.
He confirmed that troops recovered 130 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, believed to have been brought into the country through unauthorised routes. The seized items were taken to FOB Badagry for further action in line with extant regulations.
The operation concluded without incident later that day. It follows a similar seizure by Naval Base Epe, which recently handed over 125 bags of smuggled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service.
Mr Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to dismantling smuggling networks, stating: “The Nigerian Navy will sustain intelligence-driven operations to ensure there is no hiding place for smugglers and other criminal elements.”
