The Nigerian Navy has intensified its anti-smuggling operations with the handover of 125 bags of confiscated foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos, underscoring renewed enforcement against illicit trade in the South-west corridor.
The consignment, comprising 125 bags of 50kg each, was formally transferred by Naval Base Epe to officials of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service in Ikeja on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
The seizure followed a targeted night patrol conducted on April 29, 2026, during which naval personnel intercepted the smuggled goods based on credible human intelligence within the Epe axis.
At the handover ceremony, the Acting Executive Officer of Naval Base Epe, Lieutenant Commander E. L. Egbe, represented the Base Commander, Navy Captain Levi Deyin reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve to sustain pressure on smuggling networks.
Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service team, led by Superintendent of Customs C.N. Eboh, received the seized rice and commended the Navy for its continued collaboration in curbing economic sabotage.
Naval authorities noted that the interception aligns with extant national regulations as well as the strategic directives issued by the Chief of the Naval Staff to strengthen maritime and inland security operations.
The Navy maintained that such coordinated enforcement actions are crucial in protecting Nigeria’s economy, particularly in safeguarding local agriculture from the distortions caused by illegal imports.
Captain Deyin reiterated a zero-tolerance stance against smuggling and warned perpetrators to desist, stressing that the Base would continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations across its area of responsibility.
He added that the Epe command remains committed to eliminating all forms of criminal activity within its operational domain through sustained patrols and inter-agency cooperation.
The latest handover highlights the growing synergy between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Customs Service, as both agencies deepen efforts to dismantle smuggling rings and enforce trade compliance across the region.