The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced on Monday the interception of nine containers carrying offensive items, including arms, ammunition, illicit drugs, and second-hand clothing, with a total duty-paid value of N13.915 billion. Comptroller-General of NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed at a press briefing in Onne, Rivers State, that one of the containers, a 40-footer marked MAEU165396, originated from Turkey and became a subject of interest due to several risk factors associated with its importation.
Upon thorough examination, the container was found to contain alarming contents: 844 units of rifles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition. The breakdown includes 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, and Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM). These items were concealed using various objects such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags. The duty-paid value of this container alone was N4.171 billion.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure. Adeniyi emphasized that the interception was the result of credible information obtained through collaboration with intelligence communities at local, national, and international levels.
Additionally, on Saturday, June 29, 2024, customs officers intercepted another eight 40-foot containers on transit to a bonded warehouse from Onne Port. The containers, numbered TCKU6879285, CMAU5985012, CMAU7515384, CMAU4297020, SEKU5488437, BMOU4363156, MRKU4616024, and MRSU3068928, were found to contain 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml), 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5mg) with a duty-paid value of N9.60 billion, and 720 bales of used clothes with a duty-paid value of N144 million.
Adeniyi stated that the licenses and permits for the operation of all the warehouses and terminals, as well as those of their customs agents involved in these cases, have been suspended pending the determination of their involvement. Customs officers found complicit in these activities will be heavily sanctioned, while those who upheld their oath of allegiance and refused bribes will be adequately rewarded.
Adeniyi commended the professional commitment of the Customs Area Comptroller at Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede, and his team for their meticulous approach. He also acknowledged the contributions of various local and international partners who provided critical information for the operation’s success. He warned others contemplating similar illegal activities that the NCS would not tolerate actions compromising the nation’s economy and security, stating, “We will run you out of business.”