The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 40-foot container full of weapons and ammunition heading for the country’s South-East area at Ports & Terminal Multi-Services Ltd (PTML) and Tin-Can Island Port.
Customs, Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security (DSS), and the National Drug Law Enforcement and Administration (NDLEA) made the discovery during a combined inspection exercise.
Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, acting Comptroller General of Customs, told journalists in Lagos on Monday, July 17, 2023, that the discovery was made possible by the dedication of officers and men of the agency.
He said after a thorough physical examination of a 40ft container conducted on July 5, 2023, “The examination revealed the concealment of 10 dangerous arms and various rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums….
“The clearing agent, Mr Shokunbi Olanrewaju of Shooler Global International Ltd and Mr Joseph Nwadiodor, who was expected to take delivery of the container, are currently detained as suspects in connection with the seizure.
“Similarly, within the same period, the Tin-Can Island Port Command of the Service, while acting on credible intelligence; subjected a 1by40ft container to 100 per cent physical examination with the relevant security agencies at the ports,” he explained.
According to him, the physical examination uncovered 18 arms, packets of cartridges and rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums.
He said the details are two Sar9 Sarsilmaz Pistols; one Ruger American Pistol and three Taurus G3c – Bainbridge Pistols).
“Again, during a routine patrol along Owode/Ajilete Axis of Ogun State by officers of the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, on Wednesday 12 July 2023, an unregistered Toyota Camry loaded with six sacks of charcoal, which was used to conceal three pump action rifles with 174 live cartridges was intercepted,” he revealed.
He said investigation into the seizures was inconclusive and the outcome of the Service investigations together with the seizures would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
Two suspects have been arrested as Nigerian Army personnel intercepted a truck transporting large quantities of ammunition to Anambra State.
According to a statement on Monday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, a total of 18,000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each were intercepted.
The statement read, “Troops of 192 Battalion Nigerian Army operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility busted an international ammunition smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
According to a statement on Monday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, a total of 18,000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each were intercepted.
The statement read, “Troops of 192 Battalion Nigerian Army operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility busted an international ammunition smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
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