The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy in Badagry, Lagos, has handed over 529 bags of smuggled foreign rice and rescued victims of human trafficking to relevant government agencies, following a series of intelligence-led operations targeting cross-border crimes.
The Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists, highlighting that the seizures and rescues were recorded during coordinated patrols along the Badagry–Porto Novo Creek and adjoining land corridors within the Base’s Area of Operations (AOO).
According to him, the operations led to the interception of 529 bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria. He noted that, in line with standard procedures, 420 bags were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme Area Command at about 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, while the remaining 109 bags were transferred to the NCS Western Marine Command at about 11:05 a.m. at the Base Jetty.
The Commanding Officer further revealed that operatives also intercepted Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, being smuggled out of the country, alongside vehicles used for the illegal activity. He said that on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Base handed over three vehicles, 51 gallons of PMS, and 11 empty gallons to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Badagry Command.
In a related development, the Navy carried out a successful anti-human trafficking operation on July 17, 2026, rescuing two victims within its operational area. The victims were subsequently taken to the Western Naval Command Maritime Crime Investigation Desk for documentation and biometric capture on July 19, before being handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ikeja Office, for rehabilitation and further investigation.
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The Commanding Officer emphasized that the sustained operations and seamless handover of seized items and rescued victims underscore the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, economic security, and the protection of human lives.
He assured that FOB Badagry would maintain an aggressive operational stance to curb smuggling, human trafficking, and other maritime crimes, while urging members of the public to provide credible information to support efforts in securing the nation’s waterways and borders.
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