The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft has handed over 1,306 bags of smuggled foreign rice it intercepted to the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
At a briefing, the Commander NNS Beecroft, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, who doubles as the Maritime Component Commander, South-West Operation AWATSE, disclosed that Operation AWATSE Team made the arrest on 12 April 2025 at Majidun Community in Ikorodu West Local Government Area of Lagos State, while conducting routine security and anti-smuggling operations within their Area of Operations.
Contained in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, the Commander was quoted as saying that: “Some vehicles suspected to be involved in smuggling activities attempted to evade security at its check point, which necessitated a swift pursuit by the Operation AWATSE Quick Response Team (QRT) in accordance with the Joint Task Force’s Standard Operating Procedures.”
The statement noted that the operation by the Maritime Component of the Operation AWATSE was conducted with commendable professionalism and restraint as no casualties were recorded.
It added that the timely response of the QRT and successful interception of the consignment demonstrated the continued commitment of Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE to assist statutory agencies in curbing smuggling activities within its Area of Operations.
“The arrested 1,306 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, Apapa, today Wednesday 16 April 2025, in line with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution,” the statement said.
