In a significant operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully intercepted a shipment of assorted arms and ammunition originating from Turkey. The seizure, valued at approximately ₦13.9 billion, was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Onne Port in Rivers State on Monday.
The contraband, concealed in a 40-foot container with registration number MAEU165396, was under continuous surveillance by the NCS from the moment it left Turkey. The alert Customs officers intercepted the container when the importer attempted to bypass standard protocols. Upon inspection, the container was found to be carrying an alarming cache of 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition.
Detailed Breakdown of the Seizure;
– Rifles:
– 764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles
– 10 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles
– 50 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles
– 20 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles
– Ammunition:
– Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM).
The smuggled arms and ammunition were ingeniously concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags, highlighting the lengths smugglers will go to evade detection.
The duty-paid value of the intercepted container is a staggering ₦4,171,710,000.00, emphasizing the financial scale of this illegal operation. Three suspects connected to the shipment have been apprehended and are currently in custody. The NCS is conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network and its operations.
In a related development, the NCS also displayed eight more 40-foot containers seized by the Service, each found to contain significant quantities of contraband items:
– Pharmaceuticals:
– 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml)
– 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5mg)
The duty-paid value for these pharmaceutical items alone is a whopping ₦9,600,000,000.00.
– Used Clothes:
– 720 bales of used clothes with a duty-paid value of ₦144,000,000.00
The cumulative duty-paid value of all nine displayed containers stands at an impressive ₦13,915,710,000.00. This substantial figure underscores the economic impact of the Customs Service’s diligent efforts to curtail smuggling activities.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to maintaining stringent surveillance and enforcement measures to prevent the influx of illegal goods into the country. He also called for increased cooperation from the public and international stakeholders to combat the smuggling menace effectively.
This major interception by the Nigeria Customs Service is a testament to the agency’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding the nation’s security and economy. The successful operation serves as a stern warning to smugglers and reinforces the NCS’s resolve to continue its relentless fight against illegal trade activities.
