Ethiopian Intelligence Service seizes two containers of illegal firearms

Addis Ababa, March 11, 2020 (FBC) –The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) said it has intercepted two containers of illegal firearms smuggled into Ethiopia via Djibouti by a global arms trafficking team.

Originated from Port of Mersin, Turkey, the firearms were transported to Djibouti and covertly kept in Port of Djibouti for more than five months and later they were smuggled into Ethiopia.

According to a statement NISS sent to FBC, 501 boxes worth half a billion birr and 18,000 Turkish made pistols were seized.

Additional 229 boxes packed with electronic equipment and intended to be used as a cover for the smuggled firearms were also seized in the operation, the statement added.

The Security Service said about 24 suspects who were recruited locally to distribute the firearms to different parts of Ethiopia were detained as they were about to receive them, the statement added.

NISS has been exchanging information with its Djibouti, Sudan, Libyan, Turkey and US counterparts to arrest those foreign nationals who were suspected of smuggling the firearms into the country, it noted.

Of the seven suspects, two Sudanese nationals were arrested after the exchange of information with the country’s intelligence service, according to the statement.

Joint efforts have also been launched with Libya, Djibouti, Sudan, Turkey and the US intelligence services to detain the other suspects, the Security Service stated.