Troops of the 192 Battalion Nigerian Army (NA), operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility, have busted an international ammunition smuggling syndicate.
The ammunition smuggling syndicate were caught transporting a truck load of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State last Saturday.
This was contained in a press release, dated 17 July, 2023, by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu.
The troops, acting on actionable intelligence, conducted a meticulous and rigorous stop-and-search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
They uncovered the illegal ammunition in a truck with Registration number ENU 697 XY, loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges.
There was also an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of same calibre.
“The suspects, identified as Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which were surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck were imported from Mali, via Idiroko International Border.
It was stated that the criminals successfully beat several other checkpoints en-route their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition.
“Timely intervention by the vigilant troops however thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded.
“The Nigerian Army therefore appeals to all law abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information, as they combat security challenges across the country,” it was stated in the release.
Brigadier General Nwachukwu further stated that the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the troops for their commitment.
The CoAS also urged them not to relent as they strive in synergy with other services and security agencies to provide safe and secure atmosphere for all Nigerians and socio economic development across the country.
