By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About 5,200 live ammunitions (cartridges of 30GR 70mm Calibre) and various contraband with duty paid value of N386 million have been seized by personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri.
Addressing journalists, the Controller in charge of the zone, Mr Yusuf Lawal, said the items, which were smuggled into the country, were intercepted by his men between November 23 and December 27, 2020.
Mr Lawal attributed this achievement and others to the leadership style of the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Hameed Ibrahim Ali, and the entire management team of the agency for their efforts in recognising hard work, dedication and commitment.
According to him, the officers and men of the zone were inspired to work because they have been motivated, noting that, “Without the management motivation and necessary logistics support, we won’t have attained this feat within this short period.”
He said the service has always intensified its anti-smuggling operations, resulting in the items seized from the smuggling, which also included 1,215 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 38 jumbo bales of used clothing, 204 cartons of imported tomatoes and four used exotic vehicles, including one new bullet proof Toyota Landcruiser 2019 model (without end-user certificate), two Toyota Hilux 2016 and 2015, one Mercedes Benz ML350 2015, and other controlled pharmaceutical products.
According to him, three suspects were arrested in connection to these different seizures, adding that this act was done to shortchange the federal government of revenue.
Mr Lawal expressed concerns over the trends in arms and ammunition smuggling in recent times, making reference to the interception in Lagos in 2017, Kwara in 2018 and recently in Kebbi State.
He said the intercepted 5,200 live ammunition cartridges (30GR 70mm Calibre) on December 13, 2020, was concealed with other goods and household items in a passenger vehicle: Toyota Sienna with registration no: DKA 237 DW along Nwezenyi Ikom Road, Cross River, based on credible and timely intelligence.
“Only God knows what would have happened if these cartridges get to its destination unchecked, considering the fragile security of the nation: from armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry to insurgency,” he said.
