Ethiopian police confiscate nearly 200 pistols from Somaliland

The Ethiopian Police in Togwajale, the border township with Somaliland seized a vehicle carrying nearly 200 Turkish-made pistols on Friday.

The Suzuki brand vehicle left from Somaliland’s Togwajale, a border town with Ethiopia whilst full of illegal arms and with the intention of trafficking them into Ethiopia’s Somali region.

The vehicle was heading to Jigjiga, the administrative seat of Ethiopia’s Somali region when customs police agents intercepted and discovered the cache of illegal weapons.

According to Addis Standard, an occupant of the vehicle is now secured behind bars.

Ministry of Revenue’s agents have said that investigations are underway as far as arms trafficking is concerned.

Ethiopia’s Somali region had recently complained that illegal arms which were being sneaked into Ethiopia were confiscated in the border town of Wajale, particularly from Somaliland.

The Somali regional authority has sent its plea to Somaliland officials to prevent the illegal arms trade.