By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on smuggling activities with the interception of 130 bags of foreign parboiled rice during a coordinated anti-smuggling operation along the Badagry waterways in Lagos State.
The operation, carried out by personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry, forms part of ongoing efforts to combat economic sabotage and illegal trade within Nigeria’s maritime environment.
The latest seizure comes shortly after Naval Base EPE intercepted and handed over 125 bags of smuggled foreign rice to the Nigeria Customs Service, further highlighting the Navy’s sustained offensive against smuggling syndicates operating across coastal communities and inland waterways.
According to reports, the operation was launched following credible intelligence on the movement of smugglers within FOB BADAGRY’s Area of Operations. Acting on the intelligence, naval personnel conducted a raid along the Panshi–Ijofin creeks connecting the Badagry–Porto Novo waterways at about 0430 hours on 6 May 2026.
The mission was aimed at disrupting smuggling activities, arresting suspects, and confiscating illegally transported goods.
However, on sighting the naval troops, the suspected smugglers reportedly abandoned the items and fled the area. Troops subsequently recovered 130 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice believed to have been smuggled into the country through unauthorized routes.
The confiscated items were evacuated to FOB BADAGRY for further necessary action in accordance with established procedures. The operation ended successfully at about 1700 hours without any casualties or incidents.
The Nigerian Navy stated that the operation reflects its unwavering commitment to dismantling smuggling networks and denying economic saboteurs freedom of operation within the nation’s maritime domain.
It reaffirmed that intelligence-driven operations across coastal and riverine areas will continue, warning that smugglers and other criminal elements would find no safe haven within Nigeria’s territorial waters.
The Navy also reiterated its determination to safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests and sustain aggressive maritime security operations against all forms of illegal activities.
