The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun area 1 command, claims to have intercepted 940 rounds of ammunition worth N557,120,828.00.
According to the NCS, the ammunition was concealed in garri sacks and intercepted in the state’s Idiroko area.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Ahmadu Shuaibu, the area controller, said the interception happened on March 14 while the command’s operatives were conducting anti-smuggling operations along the border.
He said the command had been tracking the smuggling cartel from the Republic of Benin for more than two weeks.
Shuaibu stated that while trailing the cartel, intelligence revealed how the smugglers attempted to safeguard the items to avoid arrest.
He said:
“The superior security network of the command eventually aided the seizure but we lost the suspects, as the items were abandoned by the suspected smugglers who absconded in a bid to evade arrest.”
“In addition, the command also recorded the seizure of 123 sacks and 3,172 parcels of cannabis sativa, hemp; 380 pieces of donkey skin; 304 bales of used clothes; and 910 cartons of frozen poultry products, among others.”
Shuaibu stated that the items were intercepted at creeks, border crossings, and other strategic locations throughout Ogun using the command’s intelligence network and 24-hour patrol.
The controller stated that the NCS command in the state has recently conducted operations with zero casualties, and that customs values the lives of its personnel.
He also stated that command operatives carried weapons to protect their lives as needed.
The controller urged well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to join forces with the command in its fight against the smuggling of hazardous substances, light weapons, arms, and ammunition.
