AGAIN : Navy Outshines Eastern Marine Customs At Sea

The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Mbo local government area, Akwa Ibom State, has continuously rendered the Eastern Marine Command ,Nigeria Customs Service useless in the fight against smuggling at sea.

Between May 1st to 3rd,  2019, the Navy has arrested 12 suspects and seized 742 bags of contraband rice from smugglers in four different operations.

In the last three weeks also the Navy has taken over the responsibilities of the marine customs in the fight against smuggling in the  region.

This development further exposed lack  of equipment for customs officials to discharge its mandates diligently.

Three days in the Month of May,: it was reported that  the first set of arrests include five suspects and 339 bags of 50kg rice, the second set also has five suspects and 301 bags of 50kg rice, while the third and fourth arrests include one suspect each, 41 and 43 bags of 50kg rice respectively.

Other items seized from the suspects between May 1st to 3rd, 2019 alone include two wooden boats, two fibre boats, four outboard engines and four pumping machines.

Speaking in Ibaka during the hand-over of the suspects, and items to the Nigeria Customs Service, Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Toritseju Vincent, promised that the Navy will remain committed to its assigned roles in checking illegalities on the water ways.

Receiving the suspects and items on behalf of the Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt, Assistant Controller, Ali Garko appealed to  smugglers to desist from the act as it was detrimental to the nation’s economy.

He also thanked Navy Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Toritseju Vincent for their efforts in arresting illegalities on the water ways, and

Two of the suspects, Edet Okon and his 17-year-old nephew, Raphael Edem, said they were only passengers on the boat when it was arrested and are not part of the smugglers.