How Nigerian Customs bust container of over 800 units of rifles plus 112,500 live ammunition for Rivers port

Di Nigerian Customs Service don arrest three suspects in connection with di seizure of containers full of arms and ammunitions with illicit drugs and second hand clothes wey dem seize for Onne Ports for Rivers state, Southern Nigeria.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi wen e unveil di arms, ammunition and illicit drugs for di Onne Ports say na on Friday 21 June, 2024 dem seize di container after di importer try to avoid dem by passing through a private bonded terminal.

CGC Adeniyi say credible intelligence wey dem get make dem monitor di 1 by 40ft container MAEU165396 wey originate from Turkey and dem monitor im movement through different continents with di collaboration of many local, national and international agencies.

A thorough search of di container show say e contain 844 units of rifles and 112,500 live ammunition.

“Di rifles and ammunition bin dey hidden inside various items like doors, furniture, plumbing fittings and leather bags. Di duty paid value of di container na N4.171billion.

In connection with dis, we get three suspects im our custody after we secure a detention warrant from a competent court of Justice. Investigation dey go on to ensure all di pipo wey dey involved go face di full wrath of di law.” E tok.

For anoda development, Di Comptroller-General of Customs say dia officers catch anoda 8 by 40ft container for one bonded warehouse for Onne Ports on 29 June, 2024.

Wen dem search di di containers, dem discover say e contain 1,050,000 bottles of cough syrup with codeine 100ml, 3.5 million tablets of trodol benzhexol tablets 5mg and di duty paid value of dem na N9.6billion. Dem also seize anoda container wey get fairly used clothes worth N144 million.

“Di total duty paid worth of di nine containers displayed na N13.9 billion.”

In line with di provisions of di Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023, CGC Adeniyi say dem seize di containers with di arms and ammunitions along with all di items wey dey listed inside and dem go hand over di items to di Coordinator of di National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons wey dey under di Office of di National Security Adviser for further investigation and prosecution.

E add say dem go hand over di three suspects to di Centre for further processing even as dem go still work with oda agencies to catch odas wey also dey involved in di “monkey business.”

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Di Oga of Customs add say di eight oda containers wey wrongly declare dia contents to dodge duty payment and prohibition order dey seized while di licenses and permits of di warehouses and terminals wia dem catch di containers dey suspended.

Also, di custom agents for dis mata also dey suspended until di determination of dia involvement.

“Custom officers wey we find say get hand for dis nefarious act go get sanction in a manner wey dey approved by di Board of di Nigerian Customs Service while di officers wey refuse to dey bribed go dey rewarded as e dey provided for di Nigerian Customs Act 2023.”

Dis dey come at a time wey serious political crises dey happun for Rivers state between di former governor of di state and Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike and di State Governor Siminialayi Fubara wey don result to protests, demonstrations and di closure of local goment council secretariats for di state.





Dem also seize anoda container wey get fairly used clothes worth N144 million.

Impounded arms on display