Nigeria Customs Service Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne has intercepted niney containers laden with arms, ammunition, cough syrup with codeine and used clothes.
Addressing the media today, July 1, 2024, in Onne, Rivers State, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR announced the interception of 1X40 foot container MAEU165396, which originated from Turkey, and based on a number of risk factors, became a subject of interest.
The CGC explained that the service had followed the container as it sailed across the Continents, due to immense credible information produced through collaboration with the intelligence communities, both at the local, national and international levels. In his words: “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: Eight Hundred and Forty-Four (844) units of rifles, One Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Five Hundred (112,500) pieces of live ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles, 10 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojefy Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles, 50 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles, 20 units of VCy Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles, Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shellsy (70MM). The rifles and ammunition were concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.”
According to Adeniyi, the duty-paid value of the container is Four Billion, One Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (₦4,171,710,000.00).
He disclosed that in connection with the container, three suspects are in Customs custody after securing a detention warrant from a competent court of justice.
He added that a thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure all those involved face the full among wrath of the law.
He also disclosed that in another development, 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 Customs boss gave the container numbers as TCKU6879285, CMAU5985012, CMAU7515384, CMAU4297020, SEKU5488437, BMOU4363156, MRKU4616024, and MRSU3068928 which upon examination
were found to contain the following: Six containersy laden with:1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml), 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5mg). The CGC gave the Duty-paid value of the six containers to be Nine Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira (₦9,600,000,000.00).
He stated that the two other containers were 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 put at Thirteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifteen Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (₦13,915,710,000.00).
According to the Comptroller General, 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 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.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.
“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 herebyy suspended pending the determination of their involvement. Customs Officers who are found complicit in they perpetration of these nefarious act would be heavily sanctioned in a manner that would be approved by the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service. Officers whoy 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,” the CGC hinted.
He warmly commended the professional commitment of thethat compromises the economy and security of our beloved nation. Customs Area Comptroller, Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede and through him his Officers and Men, for the meticulous approach deployed to this operation.
He also acknowledged various partners, local and international who provided the much needed information to successfully prosecute the operation.
Adeniyi stressed that the seizure served as a strong warning to others who may be contemplating similar misadventures, adding that his message to them is simple; “we will run you out of business. The Nigeria Customs Service, under my leadership, will not tolerate any action that compromises the economy and security of our beloved nation.”