By correspondent.
,,,,,Fingers some unscrupulous Nigerians in Turkey for the crime.
Caption -The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, with Zonal Ordinator Zone ‘A’ Assist Comptroller General, Saidu Yusuf, during interception of arms and ammunition at Lagos airport on Wednesday.
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition valued at N270 million at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos. This was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in a statement conveyed through Customs spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada on Wednesday.
The intercepted consignment, imported from Turkey, was found at the cargo section of MMA, with one suspect already in custody. Adeniyi highlighted that alongside these illicit arms, the airport command has also intercepted various military hardware and accoutrements.
“Just recently, we impounded 11 rifles and six pistols among other items,” Adeniyi stated, referencing recent seizures including the high-profile confiscation of 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of ammunition in Port Harcourt.
“On June 19, we intensified our operations and ensured all consignments underwent thorough examination,” he continued. During one such examination, suspicious items concealed within a consignment were identified, leading to the discovery of 55 unassembled Jojef Magnum semi-automatic shotguns disguised as shower faucets. The Duty Paid Value of these arms amounts to N270.8 million.
Adeniyi further disclosed intelligence suggesting involvement of Nigerians based in Turkey in the purchase, packaging, and exportation of illicit arms to Nigeria, signaling an expanding threat that Customs remains vigilant against.
In addition to the arms, the command also seized military and paramilitary hardware valued at N1.29 billion, including drones, ballistic vests, helmets, walkie-talkies, and various other items imported without proper documentation.
“These items, with a total Duty Paid Value of N1.56 billion, underscore the seriousness of our commitment to national security,” Adeniyi emphasized. He confirmed that the seized arms would be transferred to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution, while efforts to apprehend all perpetrators involved in these illicit activities continue.
The Customs boss also detailed recent seizures in Onne, where 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of ammunition, concealed within a container from Turkey, were discovered with a duty-paid value of N4.1 billion. Three suspects have been detained in connection with this seizure, underscoring ongoing efforts to uphold national security.
Further demonstrating their diligence, Customs intercepted eight 40-foot containers at Onne Port containing controlled substances and used clothes with a total duty-paid value of N13.9 billion.
“This interception reaffirms our unwavering commitment to safeguarding national interests and public safety,” Adeniyi said.
Edited by Dawud Ahmed
