For the second time within the year, operatives of the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted 975 rounds of live ammunition being illegally smuggled into the country through a bush path in the Imeko – Afon Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Acting Area Controller, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, who disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday at Idiroko Border in the Ipokia Local Government Area of the state, said his men succeeded at thwarting the smugglers efforts after an intelligence-based reports that costs the command a three-week’s period of ambush.
Shuaibu explained that the smugglers neatly concealed the ammunition in five bags of expired and dusty foreign parboiled rice which they abandoned at a footpath in the creek along the Palace-Aiyetoro Road of Imeko Afon axis.
LEADERSHIP recalled that the Ogun 1 Command had last July, made a similar seizure when its operatives intercepted 20 sacks of ammunition containing a total number of 1,245 rounds of live cartridges alongside other contrabands allegedly enroute to the neighbouring Niger Republic.
Commenting on the recent interception, the Acting Controller explained that the NCS operatives stormed the place where the contraband was being kept around 5a.m. on Monday, November 27, 2023 and evacuated what he described as “a spectacular seizure of the command in recent time” without any encounter.
He disclosed that the contraband was neatly concealed in five bags of foreign parboiled rice “with an unusual threading and sewing of the sacks,” which aroused the curiosity and suspicion of the operatives, who opened the sacks for proper examination at the Border Station in Imeko.
Disclosing that his command has commenced efforts via a forensic analysis at tracking down the perpetrators and bringing them to justice, the Acting Controller however, vowed that his command would not renege in their determination towards combating smuggling activities in its entirety in the area.
Shuaibu, however, appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians to cooperate with his command, as well as other law enforcement agencies to ensure crimes and criminalities are brought to a halt in Nigerian society.
“We will neither relent, nor compromise waging war against smuggling of unlawful arms and ammunition in building a safe and stable nation.
“We call on well-meaning Nigerians with useful intel to collaborate with us in enhancing the security of our dear nation. You are assured of maximum security cover. Let me use this medium to reiterate that we remain resolute in promoting national security and economic wellbeing of our beloved country”.
