Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on cross-border smuggling, intercepting 364 bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria.
The seizure was made by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) BADAGRY during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted within its Area of Operations.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation underscores the Navy’s sustained efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime borders and protect the country’s economic interests.
The seized consignment comprised 302 good bags of rice and 62 damaged bags.
The Navy formally handed over the seized rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, at the FOB BADAGRY Jetty, in line with established regulations and procedures.
The latest interception highlights the scale of the challenge posed by smuggling along Nigeria’s maritime borders and the need for sustained intelligence-driven enforcement operations.
The Navy said the successful seizure and handover also demonstrated the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling smuggling and other forms of cross-border criminality.
“The Nigerian Navy has sustained its efforts to combat smuggling and other cross-border crimes along Nigeria’s maritime borders,” the statement said.
It added that the operation further demonstrated the Navy’s contribution to “protecting Nigeria’s maritime borders and safeguarding national economic interests.”
The Service said it would continue to maintain effective maritime security while supporting relevant government agencies in protecting Nigeria’s territorial waters, borders and economic interests.
The Navy also appealed to members of the public and maritime stakeholders to provide credible and timely information capable of assisting security agencies in detecting, preventing and disrupting criminal activities within Nigeria’s maritime environment.
The seizure comes as authorities continue efforts to tighten Nigeria’s borders and curb the illegal movement of goods capable of undermining legitimate trade and government revenue.
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