How Customs Seized N13.9bn Worth of 844 Rifles, 122,500 Ammunition, Others at Onne Port

By Our Reporter
Strategic planning, intelligence network and determination to unmask criminals involved in activities fuelling insecurity in the country were responsible for the seizure of arms, ammunition and other items at Onne Port by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

According to sources, while criminal elements have devised different methods to bring in prohibited items into the country, officials of the Customs Service have also devised methodical intelligence gathering far and beyond the shores of the country to bring to book all those involved in nefarious trade.
This is coming on the heels of the seizure a container load of arms, ammunition, among other items worth N13.9bn as announced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on Monday .
The offensive items were seized at Onne port in Rivers State, according to Adeniyi who said that this was acting on intelligence on June 21, 2024.
The arms and ammunition were found in a 1X40 foot container MAEU165396, he said.
The items include 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition which were neatly concealed with doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags, with a total duty-paid value of ₦4,171,710,000.00.
Adeniyi was quoted saying, “We had followed its sail across the Continents, as we benefitted immensely from credible information produced through our collaboration with the intelligence communities, both at the local, national and international levels.
“Working within our local structures, we followed diligently as the Importer attempted to circumvent our procedure through the outlet of a Private Bonded Terminal. Consequently, on Friday, 21 June 2024, the suspicious container was subjected to thorough physical examination. The examination result revealed the following alarming contents:
Eight Hundred and Forty-Four (844) units of rifles
One Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Five Hundred (112,500) pieces of live ammunition
The breakdown is as follows:
764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles
10 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles
50 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles
20 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles
Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM)”.
Among other items, according to the CGC include:
“Upon examination,
Six containers were laden with:
1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml)
3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5mg)
Duty-paid value: Nine Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira (₦9,600,000,000.00)
Two containers laden with:
720 bales of used clothes
With Duty-paid value One Hundred and Forty four Million Naira (₦144,000,000.00) only.
The total duty-paid value of the nine displayed containers is Thirteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifteen Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (₦13,915,710,000.00) only. In line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the following decisions have been taken with respect to these containers”.
Adeniyi said that the affected items have been handed over to the Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, under the office of the National Security Adviser for further investigation.
He also disclosed that the suspects arrested would be handed over for prosecution.
He had during the briefing said that the seizures were as a result of robust Risk Management System and collaboration with intelligence communities both locally and internationally.
He added, “The container bearing the arms and ammunition will be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution. Licenses and permits of warehouses and terminals involved have been suspended, and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions”.
He praised the Customs Area Comptroller Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede for doing a good job.

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