The Nigerian police in Lagos State has arrested three people in connection with 8, 450 live cartridges of ammunitions smuggled into lagos by a syndicate who specialises in illegal smuggling of ammunition into Nigeria from one West African country. One of those arrested in connection to the illegal importation was a Naval Officer.
The suspects, who had confessed that he is a trader at the popular Onitsha Market normally hide the ammunition in cartons of other products in order to escape being arrested by the Nigerian police.
It was reported that the surveillance team of Trade Fair Division, under Area ‘E’ Command had beaten the man to his trick when they intercepted a Volkswagen bus loaded with goods from Seme border at the Trade Fair Complex.
In their suspicion, the nigerian Police had to convey the vehicle to the station where it was discovered that over 8,450 live cartridges were concealed inside cartons of T-shirts.
While parading the suspects before news men, at the command headquarters, Ikeja yesterday, the Command boss, Mr Umar Manko, disclosed thus “after close examination, a navy warrant officer’s WO2 uniform, identity card, beret, badges and shoes of a retired naval officer, who was in charge of the vehicle, at the time of arrest, were found .
“Investigation was extended to Onitsha, Anambra State, leading to the arrest of one Udeh, who is one of the owners of the consignment. He offered the sum of N61,200 to the police to influence the release of the consignment and was arrested in the process”.
However, during police interrogation, the retired Naval officer denied having any knowledge of the contents of the carton, claiming that he was called by one Ejike to escort the goods to the Trade Fair just to avert possible police arrest.