Isaac Job, Uyo

 

The Nigerian Eastern Naval command operating in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, has arrested three suspected smugglers with 416 bags of contraband rice said to be brought in from the Republic of Cameroon.

 

Investigation reveal that the raid by the Naval Officers was the second in two days after some  oil bunkering suspects were apprehended within the same coastal area.

 

It was confirmed that the three suspected rice smugglers were intercepted in a wooden boat along the Mbo River by officials of the navy during a routine patrol when it was discovered that the medium boat fitted with two 40 horsepower Yamaha outboard engines ferried 416 bags of 50kg rice.

 

Parading the suspects yesterday in Ibaka during the hand-over of items recovered to the Nigeria Customs Service, the Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Reginald Adoki said the handover is a customary practice and a way of renewing the commitment of the Navy to rid the area of illegal activities on the water ways.

The gunboat of FOB, Ibaka while conducting routine patrol along Mbo River and other adjoining creeks intercepted a medium sized wooden boat. After offloading, it was discovered to be carrying 416 bags of 50kg rice, and two 40 horsepower Yamaha outboard engines which are fitted to the wooden boat. The three suspects, from preliminary investigations revealed they were bringing the rice from Cameroon.

 

“This handover is customary to us and a way of renewing the commitment the Navy has put in clearing this area of illegal activities and reiterate the confidence the Navy has in the Customs to deal with the cases handed over to them for further investigation and prosecution,” he stated.

 

Receiving the suspects and bags of rice from the Navy, the Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt, Elton Edorhe, who was represented by Ibrahim Adamu, Chief Superintendent of Customs appealed to the smugglers to desist from harming the economy of the country through their actions.

 

He said, “On behalf of the Customs Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Controller Elton Edorhe, I thank the Navy for the seizures and appeal to the smugglers to consider the economy of the nation that is being bastardized through smuggling. They should do the needful and desist from this economic sabotage and also save themselves the pains of losing their money”.

 

However, one of the suspects, Victor Asuquo, a professional hair barber from Mbo LGA, said he was innocent of the charge against him.

 

Asuquo, who said he was returning home after about six months sojourn in Cameroon, stated that he was only a passenger in the captured boat and not involved in smuggling of the seized rice.

 

“I am not involved in this smuggling; I just entered the boat as a passenger. The driver of the boat escaped when the boat was arrested, the three of us are passengers. I left Cameroon because of the crisis there and since I did not have an international passport to board a flying boat, I paid 5,000 franc to board the local boat,” he said.