Operatives Recover Six Rifles, 1,125 Ammunition Concealed In Sacks Of Garri

• The Joint Border Patrol Team recovers six automatic rifles and 1,125 cartridges hidden in sacks of garri in Oyo State
• Deputy Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu highlights JBPT’s five-year achievements, including seizing goods worth N36.7 billion and arresting 280 human traffickers

The Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 2 has recovered six brand-new automatic pump-action rifles and 1,125 live cartridges hidden in sacks of garri.

The discovery was made in an abandoned Toyota Camry vehicle along the Okerete-Ododo area of Oyo State.

Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DCC) Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu, the JBPT Coordinator for the southwestern region, disclosed the seizure during a press briefing at the Customs Training College in Ikeja.

Shuaibu explained that the vehicle’s occupants fled on sighting the patrol team, prompting a search of the abandoned car. The search revealed the concealed firearms and ammunition.

“On December 3, 2024, the patrol team observed a man fleeing from a parked Toyota Camry along the Okerete-Ododo bush path. A search of the vehicle uncovered six pump-action rifles and 1,125 live cartridges hidden inside sacks containing cassava flakes,” he said.

The rifles had the following serial numbers: 602-H22YT-641, 602-H22YT-397, 602-H22YT-623, 22-MT-0238, P537916, and T051084.

Shuaibu also highlighted the achievements of the JBPT Sector 2 since its establishment in 2019. Over the past five years, the team has:

• Seized goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N36.7 billion.
• Arrested 1,507 irregular immigrants and 280 suspected human traffickers.
• Intercepted goods include 30,964 bags of foreign rice, 7,200 kilograms of pangolin scales, 5.6 million liters of petrol, and 11,322 cartons of frozen products.
• Recovered 15 pump-action rifles and intercepted 480 used vehicles and 4,124 bales of used clothing.

Shuaibu noted that N1.140 billion had been deposited into the federation account from the auction of seized petroleum products.

Despite operational challenges, the JBPT achieved its objectives through collaboration with critical stakeholders and effective problem-solving.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser oversees the JBPT and works with the Armed Forces, Police, Immigration, DSS, National Intelligence Agency, and Customs to enhance national security,” Shuaibu stated.

He praised the team’s dedication to disrupting supply chains of illicit goods, which bolsters national security and ensures revenue generation for the government.