The Nigerian Navy in Akwa Ibom State has arrested 18 suspected smugglers and seized a ship and 523 bags of rice.
Six of the suspects were arrested in connection with the seized rice consignment while the 12 others were crew members on the ship.
Speaking, yesterday, in Ibaka during the hand-over of the ship, suspects and items to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Customs Service, Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Captain Reginald Adoki said the Navy is committed to ensuring that it works to rid the area of illegal maritime activities.
While receiving the ship and suspects from the Navy, the Uyo Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulkarim Chukkoh, said the action of the ship and crew members was economic sabotage and the commission is at the forefront of effort to tackle such crimes.
Also speaking, the Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt, Elton Edorhe, through his representative, Assistant Controller Ali Garko, thanked the Navy for the synergy, saying the suspects would be prosecuted accordingly.
But the captain of the seized ship, Bakpa Yerinmene, denied the involvement of his ship and crew in illegal bunkering, saying they were performing their legitimate duty when they were arrested.
