The new Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Cross River State, Commodore Vincent Okeke, has that warned militants, smugglers and oil bunkerers, would not be tolerated within his area of operation.
Commodore Okeke gave the warning when he addressed reporters at the NNS Victory jetty yesterday after handing over 724 bags of foreign rice worth about N13 million and eight suspects to the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said the suspects and items were arrested in two large wooden boats; popularly known as Cotonou Boat, along the Calabar Channel by his men on patrol
The Commander said they were heading for Akwa Ibom State from neighboring Cameroon.
Assistant Comptroller of Customs in charge of Eastern Marine Command Calabar, Gabriel Johnson, expressed delight at the relationship between the Navy and the Customs.
He said they are very elated about the relationship with the Navy. These waterways are not safe for any smuggler and that they would work hand in hand with the Navy to make sure they would not have their way.
He also added that there would be a further investigation after which the suspects would be prosecuted and the bags of rice confiscated by the Federal Government.
