The Nigeria Customs Service has successfully intercepted 940 smuggled rounds of live ammunition in Ogun State.
The ammunition was seized along the Benin-Idiroko border on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Ahmadu Shuaibu, the Comptroller of the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, revealed this during a briefing at the Idi-Iroko office.
He disclosed that the ammunition was cleverly concealed within sacks of cassava flakes, commonly known as garri in the local area.
Shuaibu explained that the anti-smuggling operation along the border had been tracking the ammunition for over two weeks from the Republic of Benin before it was successfully smuggled into Nigeria.
Related News: FG Eyes Customs Revenue Boost to Counter Rising Debt, Unemployment
Despite the rigorous surveillance and security measures employed by the smugglers to evade arrest, the superior security network of the Command facilitated the seizure of the items.
However, the suspected smugglers managed to escape, abandoning the seized items.
Additionally, Shuaibu highlighted other significant achievements of the command, including the interception of 123 sacks and 3,172 parcels of cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp), 380 pieces of donkey skin, 304 bales of used clothes, and 910 cartons of frozen poultry products.
These items were seized at various locations across Ogun State through the Command’s intelligence network and 24-hour patrol/anti-smuggling activities.
The Duty Paid Value of the seized items amounts to over N557 million.
In terms of revenue generation, the Command reported that it had generated a total sum of N24,283,788 from January to date.
This revenue was primarily sourced from baggage assessment and auction sales of petroleum products.
Shuaibu concluded by expressing appreciation for the continuous support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi MFR, and his management team in the ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and enhance revenue generation.
You can also read: Senator Accuses Colleagues of N3 Trillion Budget Padding, Sparks Senate Drama