Customs intercepts N500m ammunition concealed in sacks of garri

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun area 1 command, says it has intercepted 940 rounds of ammunition worth N557,120,828.00.

The NCS said the ammunition was concealed in sacks of garri and intercepted in the Idiroko area of the state.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Ahmadu Shuaibu, the area controller, said the interception occurred on March 14 while the command’s operatives were carrying out anti-smuggling operations along the border line.

He said the command had been on the trail of the smuggling cartel from the Republic of Benin, for more than two weeks.

Shuaibu said while trailing the cartel, intelligence revealed how the smugglers tried to safeguard the items, in a bid to evade arrest.

“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,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“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 said the items were intercepted at the creeks, border lines, and other strategic locations across Ogun, through the command’s intelligence network and 24-hour patrol.

The controller said in recent times, the command carried out operations with zero casualties, and that the customs valued the lives of its personnel.

He added that operatives of the command carried arms to protect their lives where and when necessary.

The controller appealed to well meaning and patriotic Nigerians to join forces with the command in its fight against the smuggling of harmful substances, light weapons, arms, and ammunition.