The Nigerian Navy has announced the successful interception of 1,306 bags of foreign parboiled rice in Majidun community, located in Ikorodu West Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The operation was carried out by the Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE, under the command of Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, who also heads the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT and serves as the Maritime Component Commander of Operation AWATSE in the South-West region.
According to a press statement released on Wednesday and signed by Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, Base Information Officer at NNS BEECROFT, the seizure took place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, during a routine anti-smuggling and security patrol by the Operation AWATSE team.
The navy revealed that the operation was initiated when several vehicles suspected of smuggling attempted to evade a naval checkpoint.
This triggered a rapid response by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Operation AWATSE, in line with the Joint Task Force’s Standard Operating Procedures.
“The swift pursuit and tactical interception resulted in the confiscation of 1,306 bags of smuggled rice,” the statement said, adding that the entire operation was conducted professionally and without any casualties.
The Navy reiterated its commitment to curbing illegal activities, especially smuggling, within the nation’s waterways and coastal communities. The seized goods have since been taken into custody for further investigation and appropriate action.
Operation AWATSE remains a key component of Nigeria’s effort to enhance maritime security and disrupt the logistics networks of economic saboteurs across the South-West region.
