December 15, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 3, North Central Zone of the Nigerian Customs Service have intercepted 550 pump action gun cartridges at Adikpo Junction, Benue State.
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.
“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.
“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.
Speaking on feats made by the team, the comptroller stated that forty-nine other seizures were made between August and December, with duty paid value of N29 million.
These include 1,251 jerry cans of petrol seized along the Nigeria-Benin Republic border, 751 bags of foreign parboiled rice, used vehicles as well as smuggled used cloths.
Peters warned those who want to use the yuletide season to make money by smuggling prohibited items, He said: “officers have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to deny smugglers freedom of action.”
He assured that the Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 3 will do all it takes to ensure that smuggling activities are stifled and all offenders are brought to book.
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