Illegal importation Ports operators, shipping companies to face sanction- Customs CG

Officers of the Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS  have smashed a syndicate that specialises in smuggling weapons into the country as 1,100  pump action riffles loaded  in a 20 foot container were uncovered.

The weapons during preliminary investigation, were discovered to have been imported from Turkey . They were concealed in a container which Bill of Laden indicating that the contents were wash hand basins and water closets. But during a routine examination at the terminals the supposed wash hand basin were discovered to be weapons. This is the third time containers loaded with weapons would be intercepted by the Customs, between February and September 2017. The first arrest was in February 2017, with the recovery of 661 pump action riffles, while the second was in May 2017 with the discovery of 440 pump action riffles.

Briefing newsmen on the discovery, Controller General of Customs, Col. Ahmeed Alli , disclosed that already, a Customs officer suspected to have cut the seal of the container without following due process had been arrested in connection with the discovery. A clerk  at the command, according to him was arrested alongside the officer.

He said that the container with number GESU2555208 which was never listed for examination , was discovered to have been positioned with other containers for examination. On further observation, Alli said that the seal on the container was discovered to have been broken , indicating that it was positioned for examination.

He said : At this point, the container became suspicious and had to be immediately transferred to the Enforcement Unit . The Bill of laden false indicates the content to be wash hand basin and water closets but thorough examination revealed that there were 600 jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Riffles; 300 pieces of jojef silver Pump Action Riffles ; 200 pieces Jojef magnum plastic Single Barrels Hunting Gun pump Action riffles . The container was conveyed in MV Bella Shuttle vessel of 01-01-2017”. He said that the importation of the riffles at a time when the nation was undergoing some security challenges was an indication that “there are indeed some elements who do not believe in the unity , peace and well being of Nigerians”.

He said that henceforth, shipping companies as well as port terminals would be held responsible for any discovery of such. The companies according to him would be made to explain how the weapons found their ways into their terminals and allowed such offensive weapons in their vessels. The Customs boss also promised to engage the Turkish government on the frequency of such offensive cargoes from that country, noting all seizures came Turkey. On the part of the Customs, he said that stiffer penalty would be melted on any of its officer found to have connived in the illegality.