The Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Rear Admiral Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, on Thursday, 18th December, 2025, handed over 58 bags of foreign parboiled rice confiscated to the officials of Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The contraband was intercepted on 31st August 2025 by the NNS BEECROFT Patrol Team stationed at Liverpool Apapa.
The Commander represented by the Executive Officer, Captain Idongesit Udoessien, asserted that the interception was part of the concerted efforts by the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Vice Admiral ldi Abbas, to curtail all forms of illegal activities — particularly the smuggling of contraband and other maritime crimes within Nigeria’s coastal waters.
This was disclosed by the Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim in Lagos, explaining that the team acted on credible intelligence, intercepted two wooden boats laden with the 58 bags of suspected smuggled foreign parboiled rice.
It was learnt that the suspects abandoned the boats on sighting the patrol team.
The Commander reiterated that the Nigerian Navy is committed to working with other security agencies to protect Nigerian’s maritime domain for socio-economic activities to thrive.
On his part, Captain Udoessien commended the vigilance and professionalism of NNS BEECROFT personnel and urged the public to support security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence to enhance security and safety across the Lagos state.
The contraband was handed over to the Assistant Superintendent of Customs, Kehinde Alade Saliman of Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa, for necessary action.
