The authorities in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State capital, Aweil, have arrested two men who were attempting to smuggle ammunition at the Aweil Bus Station on Tuesday.
Christopher Kuot Riak, the state’s acting police commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the authorities are holding a driver and the suspected owner of the sack of ammunition.
“The bus was loaded and heading to Wau and Juba when we discovered ammunition for AK-47 hidden inside. We have arrested the driver as well as another young man accused of being involved in this business,” Riak said.
He added that the investigation is ongoing and that the police are searching for others involved in ammunition trading in the state.
According to the acting police commissioner, the suspects are currently detained under Section 72 of the Penal Code for possession of a dangerous weapon, as police embark on tracing the origin of the ammunition.
He urged the youth of Northern Bahr el Ghazal to stay away from such illegal activities, warning that such actions are a crime against the country.
“I want to tell the youth engaged in this trade that what you are doing is illegal, and I will not tolerate such activities in the state. If you are listening to me today and are involved in this business, please stop trading ammunition,” he warned. “Anyone found carrying or in possession of a deadly weapon or ammunition will be treated as a rebel within Northern Bahr el Ghazal territory.”
Meanwhile, one of the drivers working in the Aweil Bus Park, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the arrest of the driver.
“The CID personnel came and stormed the bus park, then began searching until they found two sacks of bullets inside the car, and they arrested one driver and took him to the police station,” he said. “What happened next is something I do not know.”
Joseph AngoK Mayath, Executive Director of the Empowering Village Initiative, called for urgent government attention to the increased cases of ammunition smuggling and to addressing the underlying root cause.
“The government needs to pay attention because the involvement of youth in such activities represents not only a threat to community safety, but also highlights underlying issues like lack of opportunities for youth, because there are no job opportunities,” he said. “I would request the government to enforce the law and provide education about the role that the youth should play in society and the state, which initiates or maybe provides a program that offers alternatives to violence or illegal activities.”