Joint Naval, Customs Operatives Impound 715 Bags of Smuggled Rice
Operatives of the Joint Border Drill involved in Operations Calm Waters and Swift Response have intercepted an abandoned truck at Agbaragba Market, loaded with 410 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The Defence Media Operations (DMO), disclosed this in a statement signed by its Coordinator, John Enenche, on Monday.
Enenche, a Major General, in the statement, explained that the rice was suspected to have been smuggled in from Republic of Cameroon.
He said the bags of rice and vehicle were evacuated to Mfum Border Post for onward movement to Government Warehouse, Calabar.
He further added: “12 Jun 20, the combined teams of OSR and Nigeria Customs Service Strike Force, acting on credible intelligence, raided a makeshift warehouse at Ishiet, Uruan LGA of Akwa Ibom State, and confiscated 305 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice. The bags of rice were evacuated to Nigeria Customs Warehouse, Uyo for further action.”
Meanwhile, the DMO has stated that the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA, on 10 June 2020, discovered a newly constructed illegal refining site around Bennett Island in Warri South LGA of Delta State.
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The site, according to a statement by Maj. Gen. Enenche, had 5 ovens, 5 coolers and 8 surface metal storage tanks cumulatively laden with about 943.3 barrels of product suspected to be crude oil.
The DMO Coordinator, disclosed that no arrest was made as the perpetrators fled on sighting the patrol team.
He said: “Same day, the team located another illegal refining site around Uwakeno Community in Warri South LGA of Delta State. The site had 4 ovens, 4 coolers, 6 surface metal storage tanks and 2 dug out pits cumulatively laden with about 10,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO and 440.2 barrels of stolen crude oil. The storage facilities were confiscated and the site has been earmarked for swamp buggy operation.
“Similarly, on 13 June 2020, acting on INTREP, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol team intercepted a large wooden boat laden with about 70,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO in 6 metal storage tanks along Benin River in Warri North LGA of Delta State. Efforts are ongoing to convey the boat and content to the Base.”
Before adding: “In the same vein, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT)/anti-illegal bunkering operations in its Area of Responsibility during the week. On 9 June 2020, the Base patrol team located an illegal refining site around Isaka and Alakiri general area. The site had reservoirs laden with an about 1,257 barrels of crude oil. The site was dismantled. No arrest was made as the perpetrators fled on sighting the patrol team.”
