Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LNCSA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) have received 1,500 seized single barrel rounds from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) through its Anti-Smuggling Unit and Intelligence Unit (ASIU).
On February 16, the ammunition entered the nation illegally through the Bololewee Sub-Port in Yekepa, Nimba County. Customs Anti-Smuggling Officers, assisted by joint security operations for intelligence, stopped the smuggling.
During the handover ceremony, Acting Assistant Customs Commissioner for Compliance and Enforcement Abraham Siafa said that two individuals were arrested in relation to the smuggling attempt: a truck conductor and Musa Sidibe.
The accused were on a six-tire vehicle that had first entered Liberia at Yekepa’s Customs Sub-Port. Since then, the Liberia National Police have taken custody of both people for more inquiry and legal action.
In order to safeguard Liberia and Liberians, Commissioner Siafa underlined that the LRA’s mission and continuous cooperation with joint security agencies are in line with the confiscation and subsequent transfer of harmful and illegal drugs. He emphasized that these cooperative efforts strengthen national security and interagency relationships.
The import and export of firearms and ammunition without a valid permission is severely prohibited by Part 9, Section 9.1 of the Liberia Firearms and Ammunition Control Act of 2015. Additionally, the seizure complies with the 2018 Adopted Modernized Customs Code.
Commissioner Vivian Dogbe, who accepted the confiscated ammunition on behalf of the National Commission on Small Arms, praised the LRA for its steadfast dedication to interagency collaboration. According to her, this effective interception makes a substantial contribution to the government’s larger initiatives to control and regulate weapons.
The confiscated ammunition will be properly destroyed in accordance with national security procedures, Commissioner Dogbe added.
Peter Foloboi, Chief of Small Arms Control at the Liberia National Police, also spoke at the occasion and praised the LRA’s ongoing assistance in cooperative security efforts. He promised that the accused will receive due process and be prosecuted in line with Liberian law.
In order to combat illegal trade and smuggling operations that endanger national security, the LRA is noted that it is still dedicated to protecting Liberia’s borders and collaborating closely with security forces.
