Nigerian Navy gunboats deployed from Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State have arrested 2 medium sized wooden boats laden with 502 bags of rice valued at over 10 million naira around Parrot Island waterways and Mbo River in the state.
During the operation, 9 suspects were also arrested, 3 outboard engines and 2 pumping machines were seized.
The arrest of these criminals brings the number of seized rice in August 2019 to 919 bags and the total number of bags of rice seized so far by the Nigerian Navy in 2019 to 9,489 bags.
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Reacting to this achievement, the Naval Headquarters commended the sustained efforts of the Base in checking smuggling activities.
The Base was similarly enjoined to sustain efforts towards curbing all forms of illegalities especially smuggling activities in line with the objectives of the ongoing Operation Swift Response.
In a related development, Forward Operating Base Formoso has handed over an arrested barge Ebizarh and a tug boat Herbizarh with 3 crew members to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A statement by Commodore Suleman Dahun, Director, Naval Information said the two vessels were arrested at Nigerian Agip Oil Company Terminal in Brass, Bayelsa State, for conveying 600 metric tonnes of suspected illegally refined AGO.
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