Nigerian Navy Disrupts Smuggling Route, Intercepts Rice Shipment on Badagry Waterways
In a significant stride against smuggling activities along Nigeria’s coastal and border regions, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry has handed over 419 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command.
The seizure was the result of intensified patrols and surveillance operations carried out by the Navy’s Quick Response Teams along the Badagry Porto Novo Creek and surrounding backwaters. The operation targeted suspected smuggling routes used by economic saboteurs attempting to bypass regulatory controls.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony, the Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, Navy Captain BO Omotayo, represented by the Base Admin Officer, Lieutenant Commander SO Talabi, reiterated the Navy’s unwavering commitment to maritime security and the enforcement of federal trade and economic protection policies.
“Our actions are in strict alignment with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s Strategic Directive 06–2023, which emphasizes the need for a secured maritime environment as a foundation for national development,” Captain Omotayo stated.
He also praised the dedication and resilience of his personnel, noting that their professional conduct continues to ensure that smugglers and other cross-border criminal elements are effectively denied operational space.
“The Nigerian Navy, particularly FOB Badagry, will continue to conduct intelligence-led operations and strengthen collaboration with sister agencies and local communities to ensure sustained pressure on those who seek to undermine Nigeria’s economic stability,” he added.
Captain Omotayo warned individuals engaged in smuggling and other illegal maritime activities to desist immediately, affirming that the Navy remains resolute in protecting the nation’s territorial waters and economic lifelines.
The handover was conducted in accordance with the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedure (HSOP) for inter-agency cooperation, reinforcing ongoing efforts to combat smuggling through shared intelligence and coordinated enforcement strategies.
