Nigeria custom service Port Harcourt Area II, Onne said it has impounded a 1×40 foot container of assorted rifles imported into the country through the Onne free port. The container with the inscription MAEU165396, which originated from Turkey was seized on Friday, June 21 after a thorough physical examination and its risk factors’ consequences on the country’s security were considered. Speaking at a press briefing at Onne Command on Monday, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, stated that the container bores 844 units of rifles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition. Adeniyi gave the breakdown as follows: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, 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.” He stated. The duty-paid value of the container is ₦4,171,710,000.00),” He added. He said that three suspects in connection with the seized cache of arms are now in custody after securing a detention warrant obtained from a competent court of justice, adding that thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure all those involved are made to face the full wrath of the law. Similarly, the Comptroller General stated customs’ officers, through synergy, collaboration, and intelligence sharing, on Saturday, 29 June 2024, intercepted yet another 8×40-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:1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml), 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5mg) Duty-paid value: ₦9,600,000,000.00, Two containers laden with:720 bales of used clothes with Duty-paid value of ₦144,000,000.00. The total duty-paid value of the nine displayed containers is ₦13,915,710,000.00”, he stated. “In line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the following decisions have been taken with respect to these containers: 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.”. The Comptroller General said the items impounded 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. We will work diligently with other Agencies of Government to apprehend all other cohorts and Death Merchants involved in this monkey business. The Eight Containers whose contents were wrongly declared to evade duty payment and Prohibition Order are hereby declared seized.
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. The customs boss also said they would be punishment for Customs Officers who are found complicit in the perpetration of these nefarious act. “These officers would be heavily sanctioned in a manner that would be approved by the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service.” He also said 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.
