Smugglers conceal ammunition in rice bags - NCS

By Abiodun OBA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has beaten smugglers to their antics in Ogun state.

This is as operatives of the command intercepted 975 ammunitions concealed in five bags of rice along the palace/Ayetoro road in Imeko Afon Local Government of the state.

The acting Area Controller, Mr Ahmadu Shuaibu, who told newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun said the seizure made on Nov. 27 was based on intelligence report received by the command.

According to Shuaibu, operatives were deployed to confront those involved in bringing the ammunition into the country.

He said the NCS had been actively monitoring the activities of smugglers involved in trafficking live ammunition for about a week prior to the seizure.

The controller added that intelligence report indicated that the ammunition, specifically 975 rounds of red stars cartridges, was concealed in five bags of rice and hidden away in a bush path.

According to him, the operatives went to the spot and evacuated the five bags of rice without any encounter.

The Customs boss said that the bags of rice caught their attention due to the unusual threading and sewing of the sacks, arousing suspicion.

Upon further examination at the border station, he said that the bags were found to contain approximately 975 rounds of red star live cartridges concealed within them.

He explained that the NCS was intensifying efforts to track down the perpetrators behind this criminal act and ensure they face justice.

“We recognise the potential danger of arms and ammunition trafficking which is life-threatening, and we shall not renege in our efforts to combat smuggling activities in its entirety,” he added.

Shuaibu noted that the consequences of unchecked smuggling of arms and ammunition are severe, ranging from the empowerment of criminal organisations to escalating crisis and compromise of national security.

He said that for these reasons, we will not relent nor compromise waging war against smuggling of unlawful arms and ammunition in building a safe and stable nation.