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| Some seized bags of rice brought in boats to the Western Marine Command Jetty. |
Mr Yusuf Umar, the Customs Area Controller,
Western Marine Command, on Tuesday said its crack squad and more patrol boats
would be deployed to the creeks around the Badagry area, to check smuggling
activities.
Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the action became
necessary following the nefarious activities of smugglers around the Ere creek
within Badagry.
“We have refurbished our flying boats and gunboats, to enable us achieve
maximum success.
“We are deploying our crack squad and these boats to the Ere creek, to ensure
smugglers don’t have their way through the creeks,” he said.
Umar disclosed that operatives of the command worked with intelligence reports
and were able to launch a successful attack, which resulted in the seizure of
200 bags of smuggled rice.
‘`We received information on Jan. 29, and we were able to send our crack squad
around the area.
‘`The team was able to apprehend some of the smugglers and the 200 bags of rice
were successfully brought to the command.
“More of our boats will be coming on stream and we intend to have more patrol
crack squads in all the creeks around Badagry, and more seizures should be
expected,’’ he warned.
The controller, however, said that operatives of the command had to work
carefully, as much as possible, to avoid situations that would result in
casualties.
He warned that smugglers would face the consequences of their deeds.
Umar reaffirmed the commitment of the command to send its officers on marine
training to Oron in Akwa Ibom.
