Ethiopian police seized 4 smuggled machine guns. Whether the intentions of the smugglers was business or politically motivated move is not disclosed.
Photo credit : EBCborkena
February 20,2019
Ethiopian Police seized 4 smuggled machine guns and more than 46,000 ammunition as it was making its way to the capital, Addis Ababa.
National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) reportedly played a crucial role in the in the seizure of the illegal weapons.
It was concealed in different body parts of a vehicle, according to a report by state media – EBC.
A private vehicle with a license plate Code 2 AA A77608 smuggled the four machine guns and was caught in Nifas Silk Lafto Woreda 9, Addisu Sefer locality, added EBC’s report.
The smuggler hired auto-repair mechanic to dissemble certain body parts of of the car and assemble it after hiding the machine gun to be smuggled.
As well, police recovered 2 AK 47, two plate numbers of other vehicles and US $47,000 cash.
In a similar development, 46,404 hand gun ammunition are seized in Gulele, Addis Ababa, in the locality of Agip.
According to EBC report, it was smuggled from Enjibara district of Awi zone in Amhara regional state hidden in an Isuzu pick up truck with a plate number code 3-52119 AA, according to EBC report.
With the frequency and intensity of weapon smuggling across the country, there is noticeable concern among many about the prospect of stability and security in the country.
The thinking pattern in that regard is that perhaps government managed to capture only a small number of smugglers and that many smugglers got away with it.
Some seem to see political forces in the country working to reverse the ongoing reform measures behind weapon smuggling business into central Ethiopia.
Others think foreign powers with vested interest in the destabilization of Ethiopia are behind it.
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