The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry has impounded a minimum of 13,800 litres of petrol and a minimum of 71 bags of foreign rice in a series of operations on creeks at Badagry.
This was made public in a statement released on Sunday by FOB Badagry Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Oyeleye Omotayo.
Omotayo, who confirmed that the seizures were between March 7 and 14, said naval operatives acted on intelligence received on suspected smugglers in the area, leading to the interception of the goods in individual operations.
“In continuation of the fight against smuggling in our Area of Operation in Badagry, a targeted operation was carried out on Friday, March 14, at 2:54 am,” Omotayo said.
According to him, the operation focused on intercepting smugglers and confiscating products intended for illegal export.
“The smugglers initially evaded our water patrol but were intercepted by our land patrol unit around 3:30 am.
“During the operation, 71 bags of foreign rice were found being smuggled. The items were seized, while the suspects fled upon sighting our patrol at 4:22 am,” he added.
The Commanding Officer said that the rice impounded was taken to the base for action as required accordingly in line with procedure.
He added that on the same day, the intelligence unit received an information tip at 12:15 am of petrol kept at a beach near Bollington within Badagry creeks.
Omotayo further clarified that intelligence indicated the products were to be smuggled by wooden boats through Nigeria’s territorial waters into Benin Republic.
In the course of the search, 234 jerry cans of 25 litres capacity, which totaled about 5,850 litres of petrol, were discovered and taken to the base.
He further disclosed that 7,770 litres of petrol were recovered in other operations conducted in Badagry communities.
He guaranteed that the 7,950 litres of petrol seized from two filling stations and Tongeji Island on March 7 and 8, respectively, were handled legally.
 Badagry has impounded a minimum of 13,800 litres of petrol and a minimum of 71 bags of foreign rice in a series of operations on creeks at Badagry.){kind=link}