Operatives of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBOD)
Sector 3, North Central Zone of the Nigerian Customs Service have intercepted 550 pump action gun cartridges smuggled into the country
The live catridges were concealed in 25 pieces of black Bacco bags and intercepted at Adikpo Junction, Benue State Benue while being conveyed in a commercial bus to Taraba.
The driver of the bus and a suspect were also arrested.
The JBOD covers Kwara, Niger, Benue and Kogi states.
The coordinator of the team, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara state, said the ammunition were being conveyed from Onitsha in Anambra state to Taraba state.
He warned” those who want to use this yuletide period to make money by smuggling prohibited items should think twice as our officers have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to deny smugglers freedom of action”.
“Today, the Sector is showcasing the strategic and remarkable seizures oI large quantity of ammunition of f550) cartridges contained in (22 packs of 25 pieces each. This landmark seizure was made around Benue axis of the sector, due to surveillance and determination of our operatives.
“Based on intelligence report, the sector intercepted a commercial J5 Bus around Adikpo Junction in Benue State heading to Taraba State. On searching the vehicle, two black Bacco sacks were found to contain pump-action cartridges suspected to be smuggled into the country.
“The ammunition, driver, and the suspect were arrested immediately and brought to Sector 3 Headquarters, Ilorin, Kwara State and after preliminary investigation, as the law of jurisdiction demands, they were all handed over to Nigeria Police Force, Benue State for further investigation.
“It might interest you to know that Arms and Ammunition is classified under schedule four of absolute Prohibition list of the Common lixternal Tarifof Nigeria Customs Service- HS Code 9306.
“This epic seizure is very commendable at the backdrop of the heightened insecurity in the country. Should 550 rounds of live ammunition escape into the country and fall into wrong hands, the consequences will be devastating,” he said.
