Three suspected smugglers of foreign rice have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

In a statement signed by the Corps Spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale on Friday, the suspects were arrested by the Commandant-General’s Marine monitoring team, Western Command, Eleko Beach, Lagos.

They were said to have been arrested based on intelligence tip-off.

The suspects who were coming from Cotonou, Benin Republic aboard three wooden boats were intercepted by operatives of the NSCDC marine operations who were on red alert patrol.

The Commandant General NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, vowed that the corps will “continue to pursue its statutory functions of protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, and fight against vandals and vandalism and economic saboteurs in the country.”

Audi directed that the suspects and exhibits be handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service for prosecution in line with the extant laws of the land after preliminary investigations are concluded.

The Lagos state commandant of the NSCDC, Usman Alfadarai handed over the suspects and exhibits to the appropriate prosecuting agency at the corps’ Marine Operational base, Ijora, Lagos State.

(Punch)