The Nigerian Customs Service have foiled another plot by unscrupulous persons to smuggled 1, 100 sophisticated Pump Action Guns into the country through the Apapa Port.
Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd) who made the disclosure in Lagos, noted that the weapons belonged to a syndicate whichspecializes in smuggling arms adding that the large cache of weapons was discovered in a 20 feet container
Ali also said investigation has confirmed that the weapons emanated from Turkey and were concealed under disguise as wash hand basins and water closets.
Giving details of how the cache of arms was discovered, the Customs CG said the container with number GESU2555208 which was never listed for examination had been stylishly positioned with other containers for examination to escape detection.
He said that following close observation, it was discovered that the seal on the container had been broken, indicating that it was ready for or had successfully passed examination.
“At this point, the container became suspicious and had to be immediately transferred to the Enforcement Unit.
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“The Bill of laden falsely indicated that the content were wash hand basin and water closets but thorough examination revealed that there were 600 Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Riffles; 300 pieces of Jojef silver Pump Action Riffles; 200 pieces Jojef Magnum Plastic Single Barrels Hunting Pump Action riffles.
“The container was conveyed into the country in the shuttle vessel MV Bella on 01-01-2017”.
Col Hameed Ali decried the importation of the riffles saying it indicated, “There are indeed some elements who do not believe in the unity, peace and well-being of Nigerians”.
Consequently, the Customs CG has threatened to sanction shipping companies henceforth while port terminals would be held responsible for any discovery of such.
He said the companies would be made to explain how the weapons found their ways into their terminals and allowed such offensive weapons in their vessels.
The first arrest was in February 2017, with the recovery of 661 pump action riffles while the second was in May 2017 with the discovery of 440 pump action riffles.
It would be recalled that at several occasions, the Customs Service intercepted two shipments of armed and ammunition into the country by unknown persons. First was 661 AK 47 Rifles and the second was 440 rifles.
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