How Customs intercepted container load of pistols, rifles, others imported from US to S’East [PHOTOS]

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, said it intercepted a container loaded with arms and ammunition imported into the country from the United States of America (USA), heading to the South Eastern part of Nigeria.

Speaking in Lagos, the acting Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said that the ammunition were intercepted at the Ports & Terminal Multi-Services Ltd (PTML), and Tin-Can Island Ports, In Lagos.

According to Adeniyi, the discovery was made during a joint inspection exercise between the service, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Security (DSS), and the National Drug Law Enforcement and Administration (NDLEA).

He said, “Some of our dedicated and diligent officers uncovered some smuggled arms and ammunition while on duty at various Commands and formations. On the 5th of July 2023, during a joint operation with the Nigeria Police, DSS, NDLEA and the Customs Intelligence Unit at the PTML Command, a thorough physical examination of a 40ft container was conducted.

“The examination revealed the concealment of 10 dangerous arms and various rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums. The details are, 3 new Pump Action rifles and one new unit of an armed rifle; six new different makes of pistols; One new millennium G2 pistol; One new sarsilmaz SAR-9X pistol; One new Lugger Security-9 pistol; One new Taurus Banbridge G3C pistol; One new SCCY CPX-2 pistol, One new Taurus (63 pistol); 14 empty magazines; and 442 rounds of live ammunition.”

The Customs CG, however, stated that clearing agents were arrested in connection with the seizure.

“A clearing agent, Shokunbi Olanrewaju of Shooler Global International Ltd and Mr Joseph Nwadiodor, who was expected to take delivery of the container, are currently detained as suspects in connection with the seizure. Similarly, within the same period, the Tin-Can Island Port Command of the Service, while acting on credible intelligence; subjected a 1by40ft container to 100 percent physical examination with the relevant security agencies at the ports.”

“The physical examination uncovered 18 arms, packets of cartridges and rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums.

“The details are: Two Sar Sarsilmarz Pistols; One Ruger American Pistol and three Taurus G3c – Bainbridge Pistols).

“Five Rz17hd Rifles; One Gamo Rifle; Five Pump Action Rifles; one Rz17 Tactical Rifle; 10 packets of cartridges; two packets of 9mm ammunitions; 100 rounds of 9mm Winchester ammunition; one carton of Frontier cartridgesg; and two packets of Buckshot ammunition.”

“Again, during a routine patrol along Owode/Ajilete Axis of Ogun State by officers of the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, on Wednesday 12 July 2023, an unregistered Toyota Camry loaded with six sacks of charcoal, which was used to conceal three pump action riffles with 174 live cartridges.”

The driver of the vehicle, who knew the content he was conveying vis-a-vis the attendant consequences of his action before the law; jumped into the bush and escaped arrest.”

“In summary, a total of 31 rifles were intercepted within the first two weeks of July 2023. Investigation into the seizures is inconclusive. The outcome of our investigations together with the seizures will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.”

“Illicit arms obtained by non-state actors have boosted the proliferation of small arms and ammunition across the country. This accounts for the increase in violent kidnappings, robberies, and mass killings in society.

“Let me state at this point that the Service has re-strategized its operations, while our officers have raised their levels of professionalism, and have keyed into the mantra of renewed hope aimed at facilitating legitimate trade.”

“In doing this, we are assuring all compliant traders and importers that they have nothing to fear.

“We have re-injected new tactics to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant importers and their agents. The Service’s human resources and logistics are collectively harnessed to combat and prevent economic sabotage.

“I implore importers and agents to be patriotic by making sincere declarations, and to be properly guided by the import/export prohibition lists. I also urged the public to see security as a collective responsibility. We will appreciate information of illegal importation and cross border movement of dangerous weapons used to create mayhem in our nation.”