The Forward Operating Base, FOB, of the Nigerian Navy at the coastal waters of Ibaka, in the Mbo local government area has dismantled a syndicate specialising in smuggling petroleum products and other illicit goods to Cameroon and other countries within the Gulf of Guinea region.

The Commanding Officer of the Base, Captain UCHE ANEKE, made this disclosure while handing over the suspects, the seized items and other essential goods worth millions of naira to the officials of Akwa-Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.

Those arrested included three suspected oil thieves carrying 2,000 litres of petrol, and 1,000 cartons of beer for onward transmission to the neighbouring Republic of Cameroon.

ANEKE said the suspects were arrested while on routine night patrol in Mbo River during a stop-and-search operation.