The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry has seized over 13,800 litres of petrol and 71 bags of foreign rice in several operations targeting smugglers along the Badagry creeks.
The operations, which took place between March 7 and 14, were disclosed in a statement by Navy Captain Oyeleye Omotayo, the Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, on Sunday.
Omotayo explained that the naval operatives acted on intelligence, leading to the interception of the contraband in separate operations. “In continuation of the fight against smuggling within our Area of Operation in Badagry, a targeted operation was launched on Friday, March 14, at 2:54 am,” he said.
The operation focused on intercepting smugglers and seizing goods intended for illegal export. Omotayo noted that the smugglers initially evaded the water patrol but were later intercepted by the land patrol unit around 3:30 am. The seized rice was taken to the base for further action.
On the same day, Omotayo reported that intelligence operatives informed the Navy at 12:15 am about petrol stockpiled at a beach near Bollington in the Badagry creeks. The petrol was allegedly intended for smuggling via wooden boats into the Benin Republic.
During the search, naval operatives discovered “234 jerry cans of 25 litres each, totaling about 5,850 litres of petrol,” which were promptly confiscated and brought to the base.
Additionally, Omotayo revealed that a further 7,770 litres of petrol were seized in other operations conducted across Badagry communities. He also confirmed that “7,950 litres of petrol” confiscated from two filling stations and Tongeji Island on March 7 and 8 had been processed according to legal procedures.
