Lagos — Men of the Anti-smuggling squad set up by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS) have impounded 170,000 live ammunition worth over N160 million on the Shagamu-Benin road. The NCS said the arms were being taken to the Niger Delta. Confirming the seizure, leader of the squad, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC), Ade Fadahunsi, said that the consignment which was concealed in empty cartons of battery, milk and bags of charcoal were loaded in a lorry with registration number XF 172 UWN. The driver abandoned it and ran away on sighting his men.

The customs boss said the ammunition might have been shipped into Nigeria through Badagry creeks from one of the neighbouring countries.

He said that the presidency had already been notified of the seizure and that the consignment would be officially transferred to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police in charge of zone Two today. Sources hinted that the presidency was shocked at the latest seizure which is believed to be the largest since the establishment of the Customs in 1891 and has also expressed worry about the effect of arms smuggling on the nation's security, especially since the latest interception was being moved to the Niger Delta part of the country.

He also lamented that there are numerous beaches and bonded warehouses being used by smugglers of arms, ammunition and contraband. The presidency was said to have given kudos to the Anti smuggling squad for exposing the activities of smugglers since it was set up by the Customs boss, Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha.

It would be recalled that the squad under the leadership of Ade Fadahunsi had, in the year 2001 and 2002, intercepted 5,000 and 105,000 ammunition along Seme-Border respectively while it also seized another 7,000 at Lekki Beach in 2002.