Maritime

Navy Seizes 265 Bags Of Cannabis

Published

1 month ago

February 10, 2025

The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, has disclosed that the service seized a total of 265 bags of cannabis sativa in 2024 and handed over to the appropriate authorities.
He also said the service arrested 67 stowaways in the same year from different overseas bound ships, with the most recent being eight persons found onboard MSC KATYANI on January 20th, 2025.
The Commander stated this during his send-off parade as the Base Commander, held at NNS Beecroft parade ground, Apapa, Lagos.
“193 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 7,720kg was intercepted at Badagry in March 2024, and 72 bags of the same substance weighing 2,880kg at Ilashe in October 2024.”
“Furthermore, over 18 large wooden boats laden with foreign parboiled rice, petroleum products and contraband items were arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies”, he said.
The Commander said these efforts and the operational activities of the Base were conducted in line with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Oghalla’s Strategic Directive 2023- 2026.
He said the directive was tailored toward the attainment of Western Naval Command’s key operational priorities and ensuring security and prosperity of the nation.
“Under my command, NNS Beecroft played a crucial role in promoting maritime safety and security as it promptly responded to several distress calls from mariners.
“The most recent being the search and rescue of MV Mamaluck offshore Lekki on January 29, 2025.
“Also, the Base remained unrelenting in its efforts at curtailing the menace of sea robbery, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, smuggling and other crimes within the Base’s area of operations”, Oladejo said.
He further said the Base provided armed escorts to vessels and maintenance of static patrol of key points and vulnerable points such as the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) terminal at Atlas Cove.
“These efforts have continued to project the Base positively in reaffirming the vision of the CNS”, the Commander said.
Oladejo stated that he ensured that personnel’s welfare was given due attention because he understood that motivation impacted positively on operations.
“Accordingly, I ensured that all financial entitlements were paid in good time and made concerted efforts at improving nutritional standards.
“Additionally, the Divisional System was reinvigorated as more attention was dedicated to ensuring high moral values for improved professional performance”, he said.
The Commander continued that his tenure reactivated defective medical equipment in the Base’s sickbay and ensured that the facility was regularly restocked for better health care.
“We equally ensured that leaves and passes were favourably considered while measures were taken to sustain operational efficiency.
“Due attention was also paid to all Nigerian Navy Welfare schools under the Base as we ensured that dilapidated classroom structures were rebuilt, equipped and well maintained.
“It is gratifying to note that these initiatives have helped to address the welfare needs of personnel and their families”, he said.
Oladejo noted that successes recorded during his tenure could not have been achieved without the support of other security and law enforcement agencies and maritime stakeholders.

“For instance, our collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, among other agencies, were pivotal in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of various criminal suspects.

“Equally, liaison with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) ensured the relocation of some arrested vessels which hitherto constituted navigational hazards to a Bay within the Badagry Creek”, he explained.

The Commander said the NPA also sustained its support to the Base in ensuring unhindered availability of tug services and berthing spaces for ships of the Western Fleet.

“Furthermore, the collaboration with oil companies, container terminals, truck parks and the NPA has led to improved road maintenance and better management of the traffic flow within Apapa and environs”, he said.

Oladejo appreciated the patronage and support of private maritime logistics and security companies and other service providers in their effort to secure Nigeria’s maritime Environment.

He assumed duty as the NNS Commander on March 14, 2024 and has been succeeded by Commodore Paul Nimmyel.

Maritime

Marine Police AIG Tasks Members On Prudence, Neatness, Punctuality

Published

2 days ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Maritime Command, AIG Yusuf Garba, has charged the officers and men of the command to wake up from their slumber and embrace the IGP’s directive on zero tolerance for corruption.
AIG Garba emphasised that the feat could be achieved through collaboration with sister agencies and members of the public.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Okoi Arikpo, stated that the police boss also charged the officers on the importance of being prudent and proactive in the line of duty.
He also charged officers and men to be neat while on duty, reminding them of the need to always be punctual on duty as absenteeism from duty resulting in any lapses will not be taken lightly.
“He reminded the officers of the resuming, 30 minutes before the actual time of resumption as it is in the Police Act and regulations.
Recall that the AIG, who recently took charge of the command, has always harped on the integrity of the force.

Maritime

Aramalagu Keeps Tempo At Seme Border Command Nets N743.7m In One Month

Published

2 days ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

Customs Area Controller of Seme Border Command, Dr. Ben Aramalagu, has demonstrated his resolve to keep the pace at the foremost Nigeria’s border, raking in a total of N743.728 million as revenue in February 2025 alone.
Within the three weeks of resumption, Dr. Aramalagu made seizures worth N267.054 million (duty paid value), a feat that shows the command’s resolve to continue to deliver even under a new leadership.
The seizures comprise 444 parcels of cannabis sativa, 181 packs of tramadol, 600 bottles of codeine syrup (100ml), 240 kegs of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).
Others are 1,809 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 17 sacks of used shoes, 56 bales of used clothes, and 203 pieces of used tyres that were attempted to be brought into Nigeria through unapproved routes.
Speaking to newsmen while displaying the seizures, Aramalugu said the command’s emphasis will be on unapproved routes where smugglers attempt to bring in what he described as un-customs goods either to evade duty payment or illegally import things on the Federal Government’s import prohibited list.
Aramalagu said the customs under its current Comptroller General, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, will not relent in meeting the Federal Government’s demand for more revenue in the non-oil sector, including customs duty collection.
He emphasised that the command will not relent in enforcing maximum collection of all revenue due to the Federal Government through duty collection and seizing contraband goods in line with relevant law establishing the customs and its functions.
In his words, “these seizures, which contravene relevant section of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2003 (NCSA 22) reaffirm our commitment to suppressing smuggling within the Seme Border”.

Maritime

NAFDAC Uncovers $1.4m Fraud Syndicate

Published

2 days ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a $1.4 million fraudul syndicate, led by Mr. Ikoro Mang Ifendu, who impersonated the agency’s officials to scam foreign companies, using fake regulatory documents.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, while addressing newsmen on Friday, disclosed that Ifendu, 52, from Abia State, was arrested on February 7, 2025, at Ogborn Hills, Aba area of the state, in a case of alleged fraud and obtaining huge funds by false pretence from unsuspecting foreigners across various countries, while posing as a staff of the agency.
She said, “He is a native of Amamba Village, Abiriba in Ohafia LGA, Abia State.
“His level of education is SSCE and deals in clothing materials. The suspect is in our custody and is cooperating with the investigation.
“This case was reported by Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE following their application to register Dry Fish (Seafood).
“Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and other companies from various countries fell victim to this fraud.
In a petition from Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, reported to NAFDAC of the possible impersonation of the fraudsters as NAFDAC’s officials, using the NAFDAC’s letterhead and name.
“The fraudsters, headed by Mr. Ikoro Mang Ifendu, have duped the company thousands of dollars and millions of naira.
“These fraudsters or syndicate operate in a three-pronged scheme involving the Buyer, Bank, and Lawyer.
“Initially, the buyer contacts foreign companies to purchase and import goods into Nigeria. Subsequently, they introduce these companies to any of these banks for payment.
“The bank then declares that due to the lack of NAFDAC approval, the foreign companies are unable to export to Nigeria. Afterward, a legal counsel is introduced to the companies, claiming that they can obtain NAFDAC Certificate through this lawyer.
“The lawyer then receives payments in stages and issues fraudulent receipts and counterfeit of NAFDAC certificates to the companies.”
Mrs. Adeyeye said the agency’s investigation revealed that the group operates 15 domiciliary and 5 local accounts in 7 Nigerian banks.
She noted that the account in one of the banks has a Bank Verification Number (BVN) that is being used by the 2 key members of the group, Ikoro Mang Ifendu and Rosemary Obosi.
“The exact number of the Accounts have not been established, because the suspect had deleted some of the Accounts and the alert messages.
“The tentative cumulative inflow from different victims into the Domiciliary Accounts in Nigeria is estimated to be over $950,000USD, while the sum of $450,000USD is the estimated inflow into the accounts held offshore in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
srl, for registration of products with NAFDAC; Tianyan Filter Cloth Co. Ltd, Gonghexin Road, Jingan District, Shanghai, China; Siam Canadian China Ltd., Frozen Onion Spices, Zhanjiang Guangdong, China.”

The DG continued: “After exhausting the link to falsification of NAFDAC regulated products, this case will be transferred to EFCC for further investigation.

“This is to expand the investigation to other areas that are not within the mandate of NAFDAC. The investigation will also invoke POCA on all the assets illegally acquired in the course of the fraudulent activities.”

Adeyeye disclosed that the regulatory body has strengthened the activities of Investigation and Enforcement and Federal Task Force by reconstituting and changing the architecture and increasing the number of Investigating Police Officers of the Police Squad and Mobile Police attached to the Agency.

“The Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare will soon inaugurate the reconstituted Federal Task Force and by extension the State Task Forces to compliment the activities of the Agency in the States,” she stated.

The NAFDAC boss urged the public not to transact business with any company that parades itself as a consulting firm for registration of products.\

By: Stories by Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos