By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made a significant seizure of arms and ammunition at the Port Harcourt Area II Command in Onne, Rivers State.
According to the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the seizure was made on June 21, 2024, following credible intelligence.
The intercepted container from Turkey contained 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition, concealed among other items.
The total duty-paid value of the seized items is ₦4,171,710,000.00. Three suspects have been detained in connection with the seizure, and an investigation is ongoing.
The CGC stated, “This interception underscores our commitment to national security and public safety. We remain vigilant and committed to our duty.”
The seizure is a result of the NCS’s robust Risk Management System and collaboration with local and international intelligence communities.
The container will be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution.
Licenses and permits for warehouses and terminals involved have been suspended, and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions.
The Comptroller General commended the Customs Area Comptroller Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede, and his team for their professionalism and acknowledged the support from local and international partners and other government agencies.
He warned, “This seizure serves as a strong warning to others contemplating similar misadventures. We will run you out of business; the NCS continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the security of its citizens.”