No fewer than 2,089 bags of smuggled rice from the Republic of Cameroon have been intercepted by the Nigerian Navy along the riverine communities located offshore Ibaka off the Calabar River in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria.
The smuggled rice valued at N117 million was intercepted along with 4 Cameroonians and 2 Nigerians with their wooden boats.
Read Also: Rice smuggling: Customs raid Adamawa Commercial Nerve Center
Parading the suspects in collaboration with the Federal Government Joint Task Force “Operation Swift Response”, the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, Rear Admiral Vincent Okeke said, his Command Base is aware of the strategy employed by the smugglers and will always be ready for them except they have a change of mind.
Receiving the smuggled rice with the suspects, the team leader of the Joint Task Force, Aliu Madaki, promised to carry out a thorough investigation after which the suspects will be prosecuted.
Both security agencies acknowledged that their working together has been producing positive results in line with the directive of the Federal Government.