Maritime
Navy Hands Over Impounded Vessel To EFCC, Customs
The Nigerian Navy Command, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka on Wednesday in Akwa Ibom State handed over a vessel, NV Sword Fish 5 and 12 crew members allegedly involved in illegal bunkering of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for onward prosecution.
The Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Reginald Adoki while handing over the vessel to the anti-graft agency disclosed that the operatives of the base also impounded one wooden boat with six suspects, ladened with 523 bags of 50kg foreign rice smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon,.
In a statement made availqble to The Tide, the operative said it also seized three 40 horsepower outboard engines, one pumping machine and 52 empty plastic drums.
Captain Adoki said, NV Sword Fish 5 along with 12 crew members were arrested along the Calabar River by a naval petrol team while committing the act
“The vessel was arrested while it was conducting illegal bunkering of substance we suspect to be automotive gas oil (AGO), diesel to another platform without due authorisation. He said
According to him, “at the time of arrest, we were able to confirm that the vessel had no approval for the transfer of the product it was conducting at the time and this violates extent regulations as regards movement of petroleum products on Nigeria’s maritime environment,” he said.
Adoki explained that the arrest of the suspected rice smugglers along Mbo River on Tuesday was based on intelligence gathering.
“We would want to reinstate the continued and unalloyed commitment of the Navy to ensure that we do our work creditably to rid our area of operations of illegal activities,” he added.
Earlier, Uyo Zonal Head, EFCC, Abdukarim Chukkoh while recieving the ship and 12 suspects from the Navy, said the action of the ship and crew members was economic sabotage and the commission is at the forefront of trying to tackle such crimes.
Also speaking, the Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt, Elton Edorhe, thanked the Nigerian Navy for the synergy, saying the suspects would be duly prosecuted.
Edorhe who was represented by Assistant Controller, Ali Garko said, “I am quite happy that the Navy has been giving us tremendous support in the performance of our duty. We will not relent in taking charge of what is our responsibility.
“We have 523 bags of rice and 6 suspects, and as the law permits, we will investigate the issue, prosecute the suspects and these items will be confiscated to the Federal Government.”
Speaking on the incident the Captain of the impounded vessel, Capt. Bakpa Yerinmene denied the involvement of his ship and crew in illegal bunkering, saying that they were performing their legitimate duty when they were arrested by the Nigerian Navy on 9th November 2018.
, “I was sent to do official work by Addax Petroleum Nigeria Limited, an oil company. Addax Petroleum as a company has XPXO at Calabar offshore.
“This boat is an anchor handling vessel, platform support, moring support, that is the work assistance the vessel provides for the company, being hired by Addax Petroleum. The vessel belongs to Verta Mega Services.
“We were on the field standing by, doing our work, as we were officially sent to go to one of their batch called Agbani Production platform.
According to arrested Captain, “We went there on 9th November 2018 to go and provide this service, and when we arrived there, we alongside the batch connected the hose as instructed by the Addax Marine Superintendent that we transfer 20 tonnes of AGO.
Stories by Chinedu Wosu
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.