Customs intercepts live ammunitions, illicit drugs in Enugu

The Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted live cartridges and ammunition, illicit drugs and other items found in its absolute prohibition list of consumables in Enugu.

The Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Mr Abdullahi Kirawa disclosed this in Enugu on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the activities of the ComptrollerGeneral of Custom’s (CGC) Strike Force in the South-East.

Kirawa said that the contraband goods were at various times intercepted at 9th Mile Corner in Enugu, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and along the Enugu-Aba Expressway.

Kirawa, who paraded the driver and owner of the vehicle conveying the live cartridges and illicit drugs, said that the CGC Strike Force in-charge of Zone ‘C’ recorded the seizures, following intelligence from well-meaning Nigerians.

He said that the team, following a tip-off, laid siege on the vehicle with registration number XD 786 GWA and apprehended it at 9th Mile Corner.

The deputy comptroller said that none of the drugs and other goods in the vehicle were certified by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He named some of the seized items as 375 AAA live cartridge ammunition, 325 cartons of Eva Soap, 13 cartons of drugs and injections and three bags of assorted drugs, including Tramadol.

Others are 39 cartons of creams and lotions, six cartons of tiger portable gasoline power generating sets, eight cartons of tiger head batteries and 1,243 pieces of used tyres.

The rest are 196 bales of secondhand clothing and 2,010 pieces of hide and skins.

Kirawa said that the suspects who were arrested with the live ammunition and illicit drugs had been in their custody since July 19, adding that investigation was still ongoing.

He said that the suspects who claimed not to be the owners of the seized items would volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of the original owners. (NAN)