NATIONAL REVENUE AUTHORITY HANDS OVER THREE INCIDENCES OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION DISCOVERY AT WATER QUAY AND GBALAMUYA TO THE SIERRA LEONE POLICE FOR INVESTIGATIONS.

One of the mandates of the National Revenue Authority is to ensure proper management of border crossing points across Sierra Leone. This mandate presupposes the training of a security conscious custom official. Under this mandate, the government of Sierra Leone prohibits certain products from frivolously making their way into the Country. The import of arms and ammunition falls under that category. Since this is the case, the NRA Custom officials have an eye and nose for prohibited goods entering the country. The National Revenue Authority can at this point confirm that its Customs Officials have been in overdrive over the last one week because of three different incidences of arms and ammunition discovery at the Queen Elizabeth ll Quay and the Customs Post at Gbalamuya, the border crossing point between Sierra Leone and Guinea. Below is a catalog of the three different incidences for the attention of the general public. On 2nd July, 2021 during the conduct of physical examinations on 1x40 feet container with 4 vehicles country of origin USA, 7 unassembled pistol guns were discovered in one of the vehicles by the Customs Officers conducting the examination together with empty pistol magazines and rounds of ammunition. The matter was handed over to the Sierra Leone Police for further investigation. On the 6th July, 2021 during a normal examination of vehicles arriving from Guinea, NRA Custom Officers arrested 10 wrappers x 4 cartons x 10 pkts x 25 pcs shot gun cartridges. As per best practice, the arms and ammunition was again handed over to the Kambia Police for further investigation. On 7th, July 2021 between 2:30 and 3:00 pm again during physical examination of 1x40 container from USA by Customs Officers one pillet Gun was discovered in one of the vehicles. The SLP were again invited by Customs and handed over the investigation to the Sierra Leone Police for further investigation. We appreciate the public's praise for the vibrant and vigilant Custom Officials, the border management and controls unit and the NRA Board and Management for their tireless effort in not only Mobilization Revenue but also contributing to the safety and security of the state.