Eight months after the seized of 661 pump action rifles and another container filled with 440 guns of various sizes and designs imported into the country. The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on 6TH OF SEPTEMBER 2017,has intercepted another 1,100 rifles which were imported into the country from Turkey under false declaration.The weapons are believed to have been smuggled into the country by a gun-running syndicate.
Controller-General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Alli (retd), told journalists at a briefing in Lagos on Monday that the weapons were brought in from Turkey and concealed in a container purportedly conveying wash basins.Following a thorough examination of the said container, the Customs boss said the weapons included 600 pieces of Georgia Magnum Black Pump-Action rifles among other rifles.“If you add 600 plus 300, plus 200, that’s 1,100 pieces of pump-action rifles that were brought in under the guise of wash-hand basins and some other items,” he said.
“As you may already be aware, the two previous cases are 661 Pump Action Rifles from Apapa Command and 440 rifles from this command.“The 20ft container No GESU2555208 was intercepted during examination, while the Bill of Lading falsely indicated wash hand basins and water closets.“An officer of the service alleged to have authorised the cutting of the seal and the terminal clerk have been arrested and are undergoing investigation.
“NCS under my leadership will do all possible to fish out all those remotely connected with this devilish importation.
“We shall bring them to justice,” Ali said.He said that the NCS would meet with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Foreign Affairs Ministry to stop illegal importation of ammunition.He said that the service would not only pursue the agents but would also go after the shippers and terminal operators who took custody of the consignments.
The comptroller-general commended operatives of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) for discovering the rifles in spite of the false declaration.
