By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of arms and ammunition imported from Turkey at the Port Harcourt Area II Command in Onne, Rivers State.
Displaying the items during a media conference Monday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that based on credible intelligence, Customs officers, on inspecting a suspicious 1×40-foot container on June 21, 2024, found it to contain 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition.
Adeniyi said the items were concealed among doors, furniture, plumbing fittings and leather bags, with a total duty-paid value of ₦4,171,710,000, adding: “This interception underscores our commitment to national security and public safety.
“We remain vigilant and committed to our duty. Three suspects have been detained in connection with the seizure, with a thorough investigation underway to ensure all involved face legal consequences.”
Also, on June 29, 2024, customs officers intercepted eight 40-foot containers destined for a bonded warehouse from Onne Port, containing 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine, 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol, and 720 bales of used clothes, with the duty-paid value of ₦13,915,710,000.
“These seizures result from our robust risk management system and collaboration with intelligence communities, both locally and internationally,” Adeniyi stated.
“The container bearing the arms and ammunition will be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution.
“Licenses and permits of warehouses and terminals involved have been suspended, and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions.”
Adeniyi commended the Area Comptroller of Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede, and his team for their professionalism, while also acknowledging the crucial support from local and international partners and other government agencies.
“This seizure serves as a strong warning to others contemplating similar misadventures. We will run you out of business. The NCS continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the security of its citizens.”
