NSCDC Marine Operatives Intercept Smugglers Of Rice

Three alleged criminals suspected of smuggling 292 bags of foreign rice are currently in the custody of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives stationed in the country's maritime region.

The suspects were arrested by the Commandant-General’s Marine monitoring team, Western Command, Eleko Beach, Lagos.

They were said to have been arrested based on intelligence tip-off.

The Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi has directed that the suspects and the 292 bags of rice be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and prosecution.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Afolabi Babawale, the suspects who were coming from Cotonou, Benin Republic aboard three wooden boats were intercepted by operatives of the Corps in charge of marine operations.

He said the Commandant-General vowed that the corps would continue to pursue its statutory functions of protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, fight against vandals and vandalism, and economic saboteurs across the country.

The Commandant-General noted that continued collaboration with other security agencies would be intensified against crime and criminality in the country.

He directed that the suspects and exhibits be handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service for prosecution in line with the extant laws of the land after preliminary investigations are concluded.

The Lagos state Commandant of the NSCDC, Comd’t Usman Ishaq Alfadarai has been directed to hand over the suspects and exhibits to the appropriate prosecuting agency at the NSCDC’s Marine Operational base, Ijora, Lagos State.