Five people have been arrested, according to the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka in the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
Additionally, a wooden boat containing eighteen bags of rice has been seized in the state.
According to NAN, this was revealed by the Commanding Officer, Capt. Uche Aneke, on Friday in Ibaka when he turned over the suspects and rice bags to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
According to Aneke, the suspects were taken into custody on Thursday.
He claimed to have received information on possible smuggling activity within the area of operation for the Nigerian Navy (FOB) Ibaka.
He went on to say that the information revealed a boat operating in the waters of FOB, Ibaka Area of Operation, carrying some foreign parboiled rice that was allegedly being trafficked from Cameroon to Nigeria.
“Yesterday, we were able to intercept a wooden boat carrying 18 bags of parboiled rice that are contraband items, and they were concealed under 600 baskets of tomatoes.
“Today, we are handing them to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for further investigation and prosecution.
“Under the current leadership of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, criminal activities will not be tolerated on Nigerian waters.
“We will continue to frustrate their efforts,” Aneke said.