Force hands over 300 bags of seized rice to Customs

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base, Badagry, on Tuesday handed over 300 bags of rice seized from smugglers along the coast line to the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command.

Navy Cpt. Simon Dogo, Commandant of the Nigerian Naval Base in Badagry said that the seizures were made along the coast at Tongeji Island in Badagry after a tip off.

"Over the weekend, the officials of the Navy seized 300 bags of rice from smugglers at the Tongeji Island.

"The seizure was made possible through intelligence gathering and a tip-off the officials got.

"The moment we got the information, we laid ambush for them on both ways and they easily fell into our hands and no casualty was recorded.

"The smugglers tried to bribe the officials who made the interception, but they resisted because we are determined to eradicate all adaptors that would affect the economy of the country.

"Due to the synergy that exists between the Customs and the Navy, we have handed over the seized items so that the Customs can carry out further investigations,’’ he said.

The Customs Controller, Seme Command, Mr Victor Dimka, commended the efforts of the Navy and promised to maintain the synergy between them.

He said that suspects and the rice would be handed over to the Marine Unit of customs, responsible for combating smuggling along waterways.

Dimka warned smugglers to desist from the act or face the full wrath of the law.