CUSTOMS INTERCEPT ARMS SHIPMENT WORTH N13.9 BILLION IN RIVERS
An armament and ammunition cargo worth approximately ₦13.9 billion was intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service from Turkey.
The 40-foot container with registration number MAEU165396 originated in Türkiye, according to Controller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi, who spoke to reporters on Monday at the Onne Port in Rivers State. The container was monitored by the Service the entire time.
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After the importer tried to evade the law, the Service detained the container, and upon inspection, it turned out to be carrying 844 rifles. Additionally, it included eleven2,500 live rounds of ammunition.
The breakdown is as follows:
I. 764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles
II. 10 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles
III. 50 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles
IV. 20 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles
V. Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM).
According to Mr Bashir, the rifles and ammunition were concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.
The Comptroller General further revealed that the duty-paid value of the container is ₦4,171,710,000.00).
Three suspects have been arrested and are in custody while investigations are on to decipher the circumstances surrounding the shipment.
In a related development, however, the Service also displayed eight forty-foot containers that were intercepted by the Service and discovered to be carrying
I. 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml)
II. 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5mg)
III. Duty-paid value: Nine Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira (₦9,600,000,000.00)
Two containers laden with:
I. 720 bales of used clothes
II. With Duty-paid value: ₦144,000,000.00
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).