Mr Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Custom Service has revealed how 844 units of assorted riffles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, illicit drugs and second hand clothing with total duty paid value of N13.915 billion were discovered at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
Adeniyi narrated this on Monday at a media briefing at Onne, Area 2 Command in Rivers, organised to declare the seized items and hand them over to appropriate authority.
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Suspicious container
“Based on intelligence sharing, a 40-footer container with No MAEU- 165396 which originated from Turkey, was tracked based on some risk factors associated with its importation.
Adeniyi, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Onne, River State, said one of the containers, a 40-footer with numbers:MAEU165396 originated from Turkey.
According to Adeniyi, thorough examination of the container revealed the following alarming contents: Eight Hundred and Forty-Four (844) units of rifles One Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Five Hundred (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 Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles50 units of VC Verney Caron 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, he said, were concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags. The duty-paid value of the single container was N4.171 billion.
“The container laden with riffles and ammunition concealed in various items such as dolls, furniture and plumbing fittings was intercepted at a bonded terminal of the Onne Port on June, 21, 2024.
Suspects arrested
“In connection with this seizure, we have three suspects in our custody after securing a detention warrant from a competent court of Justice.
“A thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure that all culprits involved in this nefarious business face the full weight of the law,” he said.
Adeniyi said that the riffles and ammunition would be handed to the National Coordinator of Small Arms and Light Weapons, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo who was also present during the declaration.
The customs boss also declared another 80 by 40 container with duty paid value of N9.6 billion ladden with Tramadol, codeine and other illicit drugs as well as 720 bales of second hand clothing with duty paid value of N144 million
He assured that the agency would not allow its friendly-trade facilitation process to be compromised.
Meanwhile, Kokumo has commended the NCS for the milestone in the struggle for safety and security, adding that the success was an indication of togetherness among sister agencies.
“We are here to witness the taking over of small arms and light weapons intercepted by the vigilant and diligent customs officers at Onne port.
“This is an indication that we can achieve remarkable results when we work together,” he said.
What the NSA said
Similarly, Mr Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, expressed concerns over the reoccurring proliferation of small arms and light weapons, illicit drugs and money laundry across the country.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, National Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Ribadu noted that the menace had continued to fuel criminal activities in different parts of the country.
He assured of the federal government’s readiness to continually commit needed resources to ensure a peaceful, stable and more prosperous country.
