The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 440 pieces of pump action rifles at Tin Can Island port, Lagos. The rifles said to originate from Turkey were intercepted on Monday, it said.
The pump action rifles of various designs were concealed in a 20ft
container laden with bags of white cement otherwise called Plaster of
Paris (POP). Monday Abueh, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), who
represented the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, told
journalists during briefing that the officers of the service were able
to intercept the rifles due to intelligence report made available to the
Controller of the Command, Yusuf Bashar. According to him, the pump action rifles were manufactured in USA and Italy but imported from Turkey.
Abueh, who stated that a suspect has been arrested in connection with
the importation, added that for security reasons the service was not
ready to reveal the identity of the suspect and that of the importer
pending the conclusion of investigation. “They are pump action rifles of various designs, some are black in colour, and some are in metallic colour. “Based on intelligence report the container was identified and intercepted. “We discovered that they used POP to conceal the importation and so
there was no way that you could know, but based on intelligence report,
we were able to know that the container was laden with arms. “We have one suspect in our custody, but due to security reason, we
don’t want to make it public for now even the consignee we are still
keeping them under wrap because such information could hamper
investigations which are still ongoing,” he said.
According to the ACG, the nation has been saved from another round of problem that the pump actions would have caused. Recall that Customs intercepted 661 pieces of pump action rifles
imported recently and intercepted by operatives of the Federal Operation
Unit, Zone A of NCS.
“Sequel to the renewed vigour and enthusiasm for effective service
delivery by the Nigeria Customs Service, the Tin Can Island Command
intercepted a total of 440 pieces of assorted pump action rifles,” Uche
Ejesieme, the command’s Public Relations Officer, said.
Also speaking with journalists on the breakthrough at the enforcement
section of the command, Bashar Yusuf, Customs Area Controller of the
command, stated that the seizure was effected through intelligence which
necessitated the segregation of the 1 x 20ft container to the
enforcement unit for physical examination. ACG Abue further commended the controller for the spectacular seizure
and described the Area Controller as a quintessential officer who had
been contributing immensely to the success story of the service.
The Area Controller gave the breakdown of the seizures as 100 pieces
black tornado single barrel rifles, 75 pieces silver magnum single
barrel rifles, 50 pieces of alter pump action rifles, 215 pieces of
black single barrel rifles and 164 pieces of rifle nozzle. Others are 103 pieces of arms grips, 110 pieces of trigger, 113
pieces of arm guard, 107 pieces of bridge block, 122 pieces of Allen
keys, 117 pieces of assemble butt and 516 5okg bags of POP cement.
Answering questions from the media on the circumstance surrounding
the seizure, the Customs Area Controller hinted that the importer
declared the consignment as antisera and cannule (chemical formula).
Source: Independent
