The Oyo State Police Command has dismantled a suspected transnational ammunition trafficking syndicate, arresting two men and recovering 2,625 pump-action cartridges allegedly smuggled into the country from the Benin Republic.
The suspects, identified as Isiaka Dare, 35, and Taiwo Ayodabo, 33, were apprehended at Budo Mosalasi area of Saki during a coordinated intelligence-driven operation by operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, Saki Operation Base.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in the command’s ongoing crackdown on the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition across the state.
According to the statement, investigations revealed that the suspects specialised in trafficking ammunition across international borders through unauthorised routes linking the Benin Republic and Nigeria.
“The suspects were arrested following credible and actionable intelligence. They operate across international terrain, illegally ferrying ammunition into Nigeria for distribution to unauthorised persons,” the statement read.
Items recovered from the suspects included 105 packets of pump-action cartridges concealed in four jerry cans. Each packet contained 25 cartridges, bringing the total to 2,625 cartridges.
Two unregistered motorcycles allegedly used for transporting the ammunition were also seized.
Police authorities warned that such illegal ammunition often finds its way into the hands of armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits and other violent criminal elements, thereby worsening insecurity.
The Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, directed that the suspects be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
He commended the operatives for what he described as professionalism and precision, stressing that intelligence-led policing remained critical to dismantling organised criminal networks.
Haruna also appealed to residents to sustain collaboration with security agencies by providing timely and credible information, assuring that the command would not allow the state to serve as a safe haven for arms traffickers and other criminal elements.
The police said investigations were ongoing to unravel the wider network and apprehend other members of the syndicate.
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