For
the third time this year, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has
announced that it intercepted a container load of arms and ammunition
imported from Turkey...
The
Federal Operations Unit (FOU) enforcement team had in January
intercepted a container load of arms along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.
In the same vein, the Tin-Can Island Command of the NCS intercepted
another container load of arms on May 23.
On
the latest seizure, the Customs Service said the Tin-Can Island Command
intercepted 1,100 pump action rifles imported from Turkey on September
6.
Speaking
at a press briefing yesterday, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col.
Hameed Ali (rtd) frowned at the importation of arms into the country
through Turkey.
He
disclosed that all three containers loaded with arms that had been
intercepted by the service this year were imported into the country
through Turkey.
Giving
a lowdown on how the more recent container was intercepted by the
service, Ali said the 20ft container was originally declared as
containing wash hand basins and water closets.
According to him, “On
the 6th of September, 2017, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service
intelligence unit, on a routine monitoring of activities across the
terminals, discovered a 1x20ft container with No. GESU2555208 which was
not previously listed for examination, positioned with other containers
for the day’s examination.
“They
also observed that the seal of this unlisted container had already been
broken and padlocked. The container became suspect and had to be
immediately transferred to the enforcement unit.”
Ali further disclosed that a customs officer and a terminal clerk had been arrested in connection with the broken seal.
“Upon
thorough examination, the container contained 600 pieces of Jojef
Magnum Black pump action riffles, 300 pieces of Jojef Magnum Silver pump
action rifles, and 209 pieces of Jojef Magnum Plastic single barrels
hunting pump action rifles.
“Importation
of 1,100 rifles at a time when the nation is undergoing security
challenges is a clear indication that there are indeed some elements who
do not believe in the unity, peace and well being of Nigeria,” he
added.
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