Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said it has seized 31 smuggled arms and several rounds of ammunition from smugglers in some command and border axis in Lagos and Ogun states.
The Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who announced this at a press conference in Lagos on Monday,said since he assumed his current ,his officers and men have demonstrated unwavering commitment to their responsibilities.
He said:”Their diligence and perseverance have been the cornerstone of our operations. Our actions within the NCS have been driven by a deep sense of purpose and guided by the mantra of renewed hope, which underpins the current administration’s vision.
“We recognize the significance of our role in contributing to the overall objectives of the President Tinubu-led Administration, as articulated in the Road Map of the Policy Advisory Council document. The declaration of a state of emergency in revenue generation and national security has further aligned our activities with the government’s overarching goals.
“I stand before you today to highlight the recent achievements of the NCS in our ongoing efforts to suppress smuggling and safeguard national security. Some of our dedicated and diligent officers uncovered some smuggled arms and ammunition while on duty at various Commands and formations.”
Speaking on the arms seizure, the Acting CG said that on the 5 July 5, 2023, during a joint operation with the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security, the National Drug Law Enforcement and Administration, and the Customs Intelligence Unit at the Ports Terminal and Multi Services Limited Command, a thorough physical examination of a 40ft container was conducted.
He said the examination revealed the concealment of 10 dangerous arms and various rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums
These include three new pump action rifles and one new unit of an armed rifle, 6 new different makes of pistols: One new millennium G2 pistol,one new sarsilmaz SAR-9X pistol, one new Lugger Security-9 pistol and one new Taurus Banbridge G3C pistol.
Others are one new SCCY CPX-2 pistol, and one new Taurus (63 pistol).
Besides,he said 14 empty magazines and 442 rounds of live ammunition were seized.
“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,” he disclosed.
He added that within the same period, the Tincan Island Port Command of the Service, while acting on credible intelligence; a 1x40ft container was also subjected to 100% physical examination with the relevant security agencies at the ports.
The physical examination, according to him, uncovered 18 arms, packets of cartridges and rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums.
The details include: 6 different makes of pistols, two Sar9 Sarsilmarz Pistols, one Ruger American Pistol and three Taurus G3c – Bainbridge Pistols.
Also, 12 different makes of riffles, five Rz17hd Rifles, one Gamo Rifle, five Pump Action Rifles and one (1) Rz17 Tactical Rifle were intercepted and seized.
Others are 10 packets of cartridges, 2 packets of 9mm ammunition, 100 rounds of 9mm Winchester ammunition,1 carton of Frontier cartridges and two packets of buckshot ammunition.
“Again, during a routine patrol along Owode/Ajilete axis of Ogun State by officers of the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, on Wednesday , July 12, 2023, intercepted an unregistered Toyota Camry loaded with six sacks of charcoal, which was used to conceal three (3) pump action riffles with 174 live cartridges.
“The driver of the vehicle, who knew the content he was conveying vis-a-vis the attendant consequences of his action before the law; jumped into the bush and escaped arrest.”
He added that in all, thirty-one rifles were intercepted within the first two weeks of July 2023.
He said:”Investigation into the seizures is inconclusive. The outcome of our investigations together with the seizures will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
“Illicit arms obtained by non-state actors have boosted the proliferation of small arms and ammunition across the country. This accounts for the increase in violent kidnappings, robberies, and mass killings in society.
“Let me state at this point that the Service has re-strategized its operations, while our officers have raised their levels of professionalism, and have keyed into the mantra of renewed hope aimed at facilitating legitimate trade. In doing this, we are assuring all compliant traders and importers that they have nothing to fear.
“We have re-injected new tactics to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant importers and their agents. The Service’s human resources and logistics are collectively harnessed to combat and prevent economic sabotage”
