Customs intercept six rifles, 1,125 live ammunition kidden in garri sacks in Oyo

Operatives of the Joint Border Patrol Team 2 have intercepted six automatic pump-action rifles and 1,125 live cartridges cleverly concealed in sacks of garri.

The discovery was made inside an abandoned Toyota vehicle along the Okerete-Ododo bush path in Oyo State.

The Coordinator of the team, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DCC) Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu, disclosed this during a review of the team’s five-year achievements. According to Shuaibu, the occupants of the vehicle fled upon spotting the patrol team, leaving behind the incriminating items.

Since its establishment in 2019, the Joint Border Patrol Team has made significant progress in curbing cross-border crimes. Over five years, it has arrested 280 suspected human traffickers, confiscated goods worth ₦36.7 billion in Duty Paid Value, and intercepted 1,507 irregular immigrants.

Speaking at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, DCC Shuaibu praised the team’s dedication, emphasizing that their efforts have not only enhanced national security by intercepting goods linked to potential threats but also bolstered government revenue. The sale of seized petroleum products alone has contributed ₦1.140 billion to the federation account.

The latest seizure, made on December 3, 2024, highlights the team’s commitment to combating the smuggling of arms and ammunition, which poses a significant risk to national security.