The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft officially handed over 58 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice to the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in Apapa, Lagos.
The rice was intercepted on August 31, 2025, after the NNS Beecroft patrol team, acting on credible intelligence, stopped two wooden boats carrying the contraband at Liverpool Apapa.
The suspects abandoned the boats upon sighting the naval patrol.
During the handover, Rear Admiral Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, Commander of NNS Beecroft, represented by Executive Officer Captain Idongesit Udoessien, emphasized that this seizure is part of ongoing efforts led by Vice Admiral Idi Abbas to curb smuggling and maritime crimes within Nigeria’s coastal waters.
Captain Udoessien said, “The Nigerian Navy remains committed to collaborating with other security agencies to safeguard our maritime domain, ensuring that socio-economic activities can flourish.
We commend the vigilance of our personnel and urge the public to continue providing credible intelligence.”
The seized rice was formally handed over to Assistant Superintendent Kehinde Alade Saliman of the Nigeria Customs Service for further action.
