Customs officials intercept vehicle carrying arms, ammunition in Benue
The Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 3, North Central zone of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 550 Pump Action gun cartridges in Adikpo Junction, Benue State.
Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, JBPT Coordinator, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Sector Headquarters, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Peters said that the ammunitions were packed in 22 bags of 25 pieces each concealed in two black Bacco bags in a commercial J5 Bus.
The Comptroller also said that the investigation revealed that the vehicle was coming from Onitsha in Anambra State and heading to Taraba State.
He said, “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”.
He added that, “The ammunition, driver and the suspect were arrested immediately and brought to Sector 3 Headquarters, Ilorin, Kwara State.
“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.”
Peters said that between August and December, the JBPT recorded 49 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N29.273 million in the zone.
He said that the items seized included, 1,251 Jericans of 25 litres each of PMS (31,273liters), 751 Bags of foreign parboiled Rice, and 9 Used Vehicles.
Others are 7 Bales of second-hand clothing, one Motorcycle used as a means of conveyance of PMS and also used smuggling surveillance as well as 550 Pump Action gun cartridges.
He also said that the 17 suspects were arrested with the smuggled items.
The Coordinator while advising people to desist from smuggling, warned those who want to use this yuletide period to make money by smuggling of prohibited items to think twice.
“Our officers have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to deny smugglers freedom of action.”
“This can easily be achieved if host communities, youths, Community Leaders, Religious Leaders and the local dwellers stop seeing smuggling as a means of livelihood.
“They should equally stop conspiring or assisting the perpetrators of this heinous crime called smuggling. Section 77 (a to c) of Customs and Excise Management Act is explicit on this”.
