The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has intercepted 31 arms and various rounds of live ammunition at the Tin Can Island Port and the Ports and Terminal Multi Services Limited, PTML in Lagos State.
Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, while showcasing the seizures in Lagos on Monday said the arms were imported into the country from the United States of America and heading to the South Eastern part of Nigeria.
Adeniyi stated that the discovery was made by joint operation, comprising the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security, the National Drug Law Enforcement and Administration, NDLEA and the Customs Intelligence Unit at the PTML command of the NCS.
The Customs boss while giving the breakdown of the seizure, said they include 3 new Pump Action rifles and one new unit of an armed rifle, 6 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 Comptroller General stated that two clearing agents, Mr 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.
“I stand before you today to highlight the recent achievements of the NCS in our ongoing efforts to suppress smuggling and safeguard national security. 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, the Department of State Security, the National Drug Law Enforcement and Administration, and the Customs Intelligence Unit at the Ports Terminal and Multi Services Limited 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,” he explained.
Adeniyi stated that within the same period, the Tincan Island Port Command while acting on credible intelligence subjected a 1x40ft container to 100% physical examination with the relevant security agencies at the ports.
The physical examination, he said uncovered 18 arms, packets of cartridges and rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums.
Breakdown Of Seizures
A breakdown of the seizures include different makes of pistols, two Sar9 Sarsilmarz Pistols, one Ruger American Pistol and three Taurus G3c – Bainbridge Pistols.Others are 12 different makes of riffles- five Rz17hd rifles, one Gamo Rifle, five Pump Action Rifles and one Rz17 Tactical Rifle, 10 packets of cartridges, 2 packets of 9mm ammunition, 100 rounds of 9mm Winchester ammunition, 1 carton of Frontier cartridge and 2 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, intercepted 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,” he said.
Adeniyi said while investigation into the seizures is still ongoing, the outcome together with the seizures will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
The Customs helmsman expressed worry that illicit arms obtained by non state actors have boosted the proliferation of small arms and ammunition across the country which he said accounts for the increase in violent kidnappings, robberies, and mass killings in society.
He, however, assured that with new tactics injected into Customs enforcement operations including the deployment of technology, the Service was well positioned to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant importers and their agents.
“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,” he concluded.
Confidence Okwuchi
