The Nigeria Customs Service, Onne Port, Rivers State has intercepted 844 assorted riffles and 122,500 ammunitions as well as thousands of cartons of cough syrup made with Codeine and tramadol with a cummlative duty paid value of N13.9 billion.
While the arms and ammunition stuck inside such other steel products as doors and plumbing fittings were worth N4.17 billion, the illicit drugs were valued at N9.6 billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi while inspecting the intercepted items said one unit of 40 foot container marked MAEU165396, which originated from Turkey, and based on a number of risk factors, became a subject of interest and was traced as it sailed until it landed at Onne Port. When it was inspected by his men, it turned out that the container was laden with assorted and sophisticated arms and ammunitions.
He commended the Customs Area Controller of Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede for doing a good job.
He said: “We had followed its sail across the Continents, as we benefitted immensely from credible information produced through our collaboration with the intelligence communities, both at the local, national and international levels.
“Working within our local structures, we followed diligently as the Importer attempted to circumvent our procedure through the outlet of a Private Bonded Terminal. Consequently, on Friday, 21 June 2024, the suspicious container was subjected to thorough physical examination. The examination result revealed the following alarming contents:
I. Eight Hundred and Forty-Four (844) units of rifles;
II. 112,500) pieces of live ammunition
The breakdown is as follows:
I. 764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles
II. 10 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles
III. 50 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles
IV. 20 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles
V. Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM).
“The rifles and ammunition were concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags. The duty-paid value of the container is ₦4,17 billion.”
In connection with the imports Adeniyi said three suspects are in Customs custody after securing a detention warrant from a competent court of justice and a thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure all those involved face the full wrath of the law.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi in company of the Customs Area Controller, Mohammed Babandede and men of other sister security agencies inspecting the seized riffles and ammunitions at Onne Port on Monday.
In another development, the Customs boss said his officers, through synergy, collaboration, and intelligence sharing, on Saturday, 29 June 2024, intercepted yet another eight units of 40-foot container on transit to a bonded warehouse from Onne Port.
The container numbers are TCKU6879285, CMAU5985012, CMAU7515384, CMAU4297020, SEKU5488437, BMOU4363156, MRKU4616024, and MRSU3068928.
“Upon examination, they were found to contain the following:
Six containers laden with:
I. 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml)
II. 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5mg)
III. Duty-paid value: ₦9.6 billion.
Two containers laden with:
I. 720 bales of used clothes
II. With Duty-paid value: ₦144.milion.
“The total duty-paid value of the nine displayed containers is ₦13.915 billion.
“In line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the following decisions have been taken with respect to these containers:
I. The 40-footer container of evil, bearing 844 units of assorted Rifles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition is hereby seized, alongside the other contents previously highlighted.
II. The items would be handed over to the Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, under the office of the National Security Adviser for diligent investigation, and ultimately rigorous prosecution.
III. The suspects arrested would be handed over to the Centre for further processing. We will work diligently with other Agencies of Government to apprehend all other cohorts and Death Merchants involved in this monkey business.
IV. The Eight Containers whose contents were wrongly declared to evade duty payment and Prohibition Order are hereby declared seized.
“V. The Licences and Permits issued for the operation of all the Warehouses and Terminals as well as those of their Customs Agents involved in these cases are hereby suspended pending the determination of their involvement.
VI. Customs Officers who are found complicit in the perpetration of these nefarious act would be heavily sanctioned in a manner that would be approved by the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service.
VII. Officers who kept faith with the Oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and refused to be bribed into releasing these containers will be adequately rewarded in a manner provided by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”
Despite several seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service in the last few months, importers and traffickers of arms and ammunition, contranbands and illicit drugs appear brazen to continue their unwholesome trade. But the Customs CG said the Service is fully charged to match the smugglers antics.
Recall that while inspecting similar interceptions at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos, Adeniyi had disclosed attempts by criminal elements seeking to exploit the country’s trade facilitation friendly posture to compromise laid down processes and procedures. The Customs Comptroller-General had said investigations were going on to determine the extent of complicity by officers of the service, threatenjng that severe sanctions would be meted out on any culpable officer and terminals used would be closed if their management are found wanting in aiding smuggling of illicit goods.
