Customs Ogun Area 1 Command Intercepts 1,245 live Cartridges, Bags of Foreign Rice

By Adetokunbo FAKEYE 

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ogun Area 1 Command has announced interception of twenty sacks of ammunition and some bags of imported rice.

These sacks, according to the Command Comptroller, Bamidele Makinde while addressing journalists contained a total of 1,245 live cartridges, and they were apprehended alongside an additional 203 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg. 

The interception, he said took place at the Ijoun axis of Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun State. 

Comptroller Makinde, revealed further that the contraband was seized around 0024 hours on Friday, August 12, 2023, by the Roving "B" Team of the Service during a routine border patrol.

The smugglers, he said, abandoned the seized items along a bush path near Tobolo Junction, a border village near Benin Republic. "This action was taken after the anti-smuggling operatives of the command pursued them in a hot chase" stated.

Makinde explained that his command received credible intelligence about the movement of prohibited items from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria by unscrupulous individuals. In response, his command employed necessary measures to thwart these plans.

"Upon examination of the seized vehicles and items, it was discovered that about 1,245 rounds of 70mm (2¾) ammunition from brands like Lion, Trust, Supreme, and Restar had been cleverly concealed within 29 bags of the seized goods. Recognizing the significant threat posed by such ammunition if successfully smuggled, we intensified our efforts to prevent their entry into Nigeria", he said. 

Makinde assured that his command will ensure utmost security along Nigeria’s border.