The Nigerian Navy has intercepted 1,306 bags of smuggled foreign rice in a swift operation carried out in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The operation, which took place on April 12, 2025, was executed by the Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE, a joint security initiative aimed at combating criminal activities in the South-West, including smuggling, pipeline vandalism, and other maritime crimes.
Leading the team was Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, who briefed journalists after the successful interception. He explained that the Navy had received intelligence about suspected smugglers using vehicles to transport foreign rice through illegal routes at the Majidun end of Ikorodu.
According to him, the smugglers tried to bypass a security checkpoint in an attempt to escape detection, but the Navy’s Quick Response Team (QRT) responded immediately.
“Our personnel acted swiftly and professionally. They pursued and intercepted the suspects, who then abandoned their vehicles and fled. No casualties were recorded during the operation,” Commodore Nimmyel said.
He added that the seizure aligns with the Navy’s responsibility under Operation AWATSE, which operates in coordination with other security agencies to protect Nigeria’s territorial waters and borders from illegal activities.
The intercepted 1,306 bags of foreign parboiled rice were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, Apapa, on April 16, in line with the Harmonised Standard Procedures for Arrests, Detentions and Prosecutions used by the Joint Task Force.
Commodore Nimmyel commended his team for their professionalism and restraint during the operation, stressing that the Navy remains committed to supporting national efforts to fight smuggling and protect Nigeria’s economy.
The interception comes at a time when the federal government continues to enforce a ban on the importation of foreign rice through land borders and some coastal routes. The policy, which began under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was aimed at boosting local rice production, protecting local farmers, and reducing Nigeria’s dependency on food imports.
Despite this, smuggling remains widespread, especially in border states like Lagos, Ogun, and Cross River. Smugglers often use backroads, waterways, and unmonitored routes to bring in foreign rice, which is often cheaper than locally produced alternatives. This has remained a major challenge for security agencies.
In a separate but equally significant development, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command, has handed over nine large containers filled with expired and fake pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Joy Edelduok, confirmed that the containers were all 40 feet in size and had been abandoned by unknown importers for several years. She noted that the items inside included counterfeit and expired medicines that pose serious health risks to Nigerians.
“These importers abandoned the containers after realizing that they were carrying fake and expired drugs, likely due to increased checks and surveillance. Unfortunately, because they fled and used false documentation, making arrests has been difficult,” Edelduok said.
She stated that the importation of such harmful items clearly violates the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which prohibits the importation of unregistered or substandard pharmaceutical products into the country.
The expired and fake drugs were formally handed over to NAFDAC officials for further investigation and proper destruction. NAFDAC, on its part, expressed concern over the increasing use of Nigerian ports by drug traffickers and fake product distributors.
“These products could have ended up in our markets and hospitals, putting millions of lives at risk. We are grateful to the Customs for their vigilance,” a NAFDAC representative said during the handover.
Both the Navy’s interception of smuggled rice and Customs’ discovery of fake drugs point to the larger issue of Nigeria’s porous borders and weak regulatory enforcement. While security agencies have recorded several successes, many believe more needs to be done to strengthen border surveillance and punish offenders.
Public health experts have also raised alarm over the health dangers posed by expired drugs, stressing that they can cause complications, treatment failure, or even death if unknowingly consumed by patients.
In recent years, NAFDAC and Customs have collaborated on multiple operations to seize and destroy fake food items, beverages, cosmetics, and medicines. However, with thousands of containers passing through Nigerian ports daily, detection and enforcement remain a daunting task.
Authorities are calling on the public to support ongoing anti-smuggling efforts by reporting suspicious activities in their communities. Citizens are also urged to be cautious when buying imported products, especially medicines, and to buy only from licensed pharmacies and dealers.
The Navy and Customs also reiterated their readiness to continue clamping down on smugglers and fake goods distributors in the country. They warned that anyone caught breaking the law would face the full wrath of the law.
