The Ogun State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service disclosed on Wednesday that it intercepted 975 rounds of red star live cartridges concealed in five bags of rice, hidden in a bush along Palace/Ayetoro Road in the Imeko Afon Local Government Area of the state, News About Nigeria reports.
According to the acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Amadu Shuaibu, who revealed the information, the seizure was conducted based on an intelligence report. Following this report, officials were deployed to confront those bringing the ammunition into the country.
The Deputy Comptroller mentioned that the command had been trailing the smugglers of live ammunition for about a week until Monday around 5 a.m. when they received an intelligence report about the ammunition concealed in five bags of rice hidden in the bush.
He further explained that the bags of rice were suspected due to the unusual threading and sewing of the sacks. Operatives of the command opened the bags of rice for proper examination at the border station, only to discover about 975 rounds of red star live cartridges inside.
Shuaibu also stated that investigations are ongoing to track the perpetrators of the act for them to be brought to justice.
He emphasized that the Nigerian Customs Service is fully aware of the potential danger of arms and ammunition trafficking, and they will intensify efforts to put an end to smuggling activities in Nigeria.
The Command Comptroller listed the consequences of unchecked smuggling of arms and ammunition, including the empowerment of criminal organizations, an increase in crises and crimes, and an attack on national security.
“For these reasons, we will not relent nor compromise in waging war against the smuggling of unlawful arms and ammunition in building a safe and stable nation,” Shuaibu stated.
