The Nigerian Navy in Akwa Ibom State has arrested five suspects and seized 424 bags of smuggled rice in two operations.
Speaking, yesterday, in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the state during the handing over of the items to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Commanding Officer of Forward Operating Base, Captain Toritseju Vincent, said navy officials on patrol made the arrest on August 17.
He said in the second operation, suspects with a wooden boat escaped on sighting the navy gunboats, and left behind their wooden boat with 130 bags of rice which the officers seized.
He said the navy has made various arrests over the months in line with its constitutional role to check smuggling on the waterways, adding that it would not rest on its oars and warned smugglers to desist from the act.
The five suspects and 424 bags of rice were handed over to the customs represented by the Deputy Superintendent of NCS, K. Alabi and Assistant Controller of NCS, Ali Garko.
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