The Nigerian Navy has intercepted 364 bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria through the maritime border and handed them over to the Nigeria Customs Service for further action.
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 by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the seized consignment comprised 302 good bags and 62 damaged bags of foreign parboiled rice.
The Navy formally handed over the seized rice to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at the FOB BADAGRY Jetty.
The Service said the interception underscored its sustained efforts to combat smuggling and other cross-border crimes along Nigeria’s maritime borders while protecting the country’s economic interests.
It also emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and other government agencies in tackling smuggling and other forms of cross-border criminality.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining effective maritime security and supporting relevant agencies in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial waters, borders and economic interests.
It further urged members of the public and maritime stakeholders to provide credible information capable of assisting security agencies in preventing and disrupting criminal activities within the country’s maritime environment.
