By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Arms, ammunitions, contraband, used clothes and Drugs worth about N18 billion have been intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service NCS at the Onne Port, Rivers state.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the arms and ammunition.
This is even as the Licenses and permits of warehouses and terminals involved in the arms procurement have been suspended, while officers found complicit will face severe sanctions, according to the Comptroller General, CGC, of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
In a release issued on Monday, July 1, 2024, by the NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, the Service, acting on credible intelligence on June 21,while inspecting a suspicious 1×40 foot container from Turkey ,found it to contain 844 riffles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition .
The items were said to have been concealed among doors, furniture ,plumbing fittings and leather bags ,with a total duty-paid value of N4,171,710,000,00.
The CGC who made the disclosure during an interaction with the Media in Onne, noted that the interception underscores the commitment of the NCS to the protection of National Security and public safety.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure. A thorough investigation is said to be underway to ensure that all involved are made to face the full weight of the law.
According to the statement, “On June 29, 2024, Customs operatives, also intercepted eight 40-foot containers destined for a bonded warehouse containing 1,050,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup with codeine ,3 ,500,000 tablets of Tradol Benzhexol and 720 bales of used clothes with the duty-paid value of N13,915 ,710,000,00.
“These seizures result from our robust Risk Management System and collaboration with intelligence community, both locally and internationally.
“The container bearing the arms and ammunition will be handed over to the National Centre for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution.
“Licenses and permits of Warehouses and Terminals involved have been suspended ,and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions.
The seizure serves as a strong warning to others contemplating similar misadventures. We will run you out of business, the NCS continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the security of its citizens” CGC Adeniyi noted.
The NCS Comptroller General commended ,the efforts of the Onne port Command Comptroller, Mohammed Babandede and his team for their display of professionalism.
