The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of a container filled with arms and ammunition imported from Turkey at the Onne Port in Rivers State. Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi revealed that the 40-foot container, numbered MAEU165396, contained pump-action rifles and ammunition valued at N4.17 billion.
During a press briefing in Onne, Adeniyi detailed that a thorough examination of the container revealed 844 units of rifles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition. The firearms included 764 Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles, 10 VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles, 50 VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles, and 20 VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles. The shipment was concealed with items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure. Adeniyi noted that the Customs Service tracked the container across continents and received crucial intelligence from both local and international communities. The importer attempted to bypass procedures through a private bonded terminal, but a physical examination on June 21, 2024, uncovered the illicit contents.
In a separate development, Customs officers intercepted another eight 40-foot containers on June 29, 2024, which contained 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine, 3,500,000 Trodol Benzhexol Tablets, and 720 bales of used clothes, with a total duty-paid value of N13.9 billion. Licenses and permits for the implicated warehouses, terminals, and Customs agents have been suspended pending investigation.
Adeniyi assured that any Customs officers found complicit will face severe sanctions, while those who upheld their duties will be rewarded. He commended the Onne Port Customs Area Comptroller, Mohammed Babandede, and his team for their diligent work. Adeniyi concluded with a stern warning to those contemplating similar illegal activities, stating that the NCS will not tolerate actions that threaten Nigeria’s economy and security.
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