The Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) said it has impounded arms and ammunition worth N18.23billion in a deliberate attempt to curb the smuggling of illicit items into Nigeria through its borders.
This is just as the NCS revealed that it has also seized 848 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition and illicit drugs at the Onne Port in Rivers State in containers that originated from Turkey.
The Comptroller General of NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this while showing the intercepted arms and ammunition and illicit drugs to journalists at a media briefing at the NCS, Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne yesterday; Monday.
Adeniyi explained that the illegal arms were concealed in other items inside a 1X40 foot container ‘MAEU165396’ and that the illicit drugs were hidden in different cartons in nine containers.
The rifles and ammunition were hidden using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.
Shown to the media were nine containers,one containing the intercepted arms and ammunition valued at N4.17 billion, six containing seized drugs valued at N13.92billion and two containing used clothes valued at N144 million.
The Customs boss also disclosed that the officials also arrested three suspects connected with the arms importation, and that they are currently in custody after securing a detention warrant from a court.
“Today, we gather to inform you about the recent significant developments in our operations to secure our nation’s borders and ensure public safety.
“You may recall that at a press briefing of this nature held recently at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos, I had disclosed attempts by criminal elements seeking to exploit our trade facilitation friendly posture to compromise our processes and procedures.
“With our robust Risk Management System, we have always remained a step ahead of their moves. When these attempts revolve around revenue generation, our automated audit systems at different levels enable us to trace, track and recover the revenue. However, when efforts are geared towards creating actions that will produce irreversible consequences on national security, our alert level is elevated to match the threats posed to us.”
The arms and ammunition, he said, were intercepted through credible intelligence monitoring the shipments from their point of departure in collaboration with the local, national and international intelligence communities.
“It was the case with this 1X40 foot container MAEU165396, which originated from Turkey, and based on several risk factors, became a subject of interest. We had followed its sail across the continents, as we benefitted immensely from credible information produced through our collaboration with the intelligence communities, both at the local, national and international levels.
“Working within our local structures, we followed diligently as the importer attempted to circumvent our procedure through the outlet of a private bonded terminal.
“Consequently, on Friday, 21 June 2024, the suspicious container was subjected to a thorough physical examination. The examination result revealed the following alarming contents: 844 units of rifles, and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition.
“The breakdown is as follows; 764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles, 10 units of VC Verney Carron Gunmakers Jojeff Magnum silver pump-action rifles, 50 units of VC Verney Carron Gunmaker double-barrel rifles, 20 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker single-barrel rifles, exclusive series, Sterling High-Quality live ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM).
“The rifles and ammunition were concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags. The duty-paid value of the container is N4.17bn.
“In connection with this, we have three suspects in our custody after securing a detention warrant from a competent court of justice. Furthermore, a thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure all those involved face the full wrath of the law,” Adeniyi declared.
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