The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on cross-border smuggling in Badagry, Lagos State, following the interception and handover of 372 bags of foreign parboiled rice seized during multiple targeted anti-smuggling operations along illegal trade routes in the area.

The seized consignment was formally handed over on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures.

According to a statement signed by the Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, Navy Captain Busuyi Oyeleye Omotayo, the operation underscores the Navy’s constitutional mandate to support civil authorities in curbing smuggling and other cross-border economic crimes that undermine national security and local livelihoods.

Breakdown of the handover shows that 302 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice were transferred to the Nigeria Customs Service, #Seme Area Command, while an additional 70 bags of 50kg rice were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, for further investigation and appropriate legal action.

Captain Omotayo noted that the sustained operational tempo of FOB Badagry aligns with the strategic vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who has consistently emphasized the need to build a highly professional naval force committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests through inter-agency collaboration.

“Since the assumption of office by the Chief of the Naval Staff, there has been a clear directive to strengthen maritime security and disrupt criminal networks operating across Nigeria’s waterways and border communities,” the statement said.

It added that FOB Badagry’s operations are focused not only on securing Nigeria’s maritime domain but also on protecting adjacent land corridors frequently exploited by smugglers.

“These efforts are driven by professionalism, operational discipline, and sustained engagement with host communities, sister security agencies, and other stakeholders in the fight against transnational crimes and threats to the nation’s economy,” the statement further read.

The latest seizure highlights the growing effectiveness of joint maritime and border surveillance in the Badagry axis, a region historically vulnerable to smuggling due to its proximity to international borders and coastal routes.

Security authorities have continued to urge residents of border communities to support ongoing operations by providing timely intelligence, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to dismantling smuggling networks and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests.