The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has briefed the media on how the force trailed and intercepted 1X40 foot container MAEU165396, from Turkey to Port Harcourt.
He noted that 1X40 foot container was laden with 844 units of riffles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition.
Address journalists on Monday, Adeniyi lauded the Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne, for their efforts at intercepting the arms laden container and arresting the suspects involved.
While making reference to a previous briefing at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos, the custom boss said, “I had disclosed attempts by criminal elements seeking to exploit our trade facilitation friendly posture to compromise our processes and procedures. With our robust Risk Management System, we have always remained a step ahead of their moves. When these attempts revolve around revenue generation, our automated audit systems at different level enable us to trace, track and recover the revenue. However, when efforts are geared towards creating actions that will produce irreversible consequences on national security, our alert level is elevated to match the threats posed to us.
“And so it was the case with this 1X40 foot container MAEU165396, which originated from Turkey, and based on a number of risk factors, became a subject of interest. 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.
READ MORE; Explosion Rock Port Harcourt.
“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).
“The rifles and ammunition were concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags. The duty-paid value of the container is Four Billion, One Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (₦4,171,710,000.00).
“In connection with this, we have three suspects in our custody after securing a detention warrant from a competent court of justice. Furthermore, a thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure all those involved face the full wrath of the law.
“In another development, our officers, through synergy, collaboration, and intelligence sharing, on Saturday, 29 June 2024, intercepted yet another 8×40-foot container onon transit to a bonded warehouse from Onne Port. The container numbers are TCKU6879285, CMAU5985012, CMAU7515384, CMAU4297020, SEKU5488437, BMOU4363156, MRKU4616024, and MRSU3068928. Upon examination, they were found to contain the following:
Six containers 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: ₦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).
In line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the following decisions have been taken with respect to these containers:
The 40-footer container of evil, bearing 844 units of assorted Rifles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition is hereby seized, alongside the other contents previously highlighted.
The items would be 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 diligent investigation, and ultimately rigorous prosecution.
The suspects arrested would be handed over to the Centre for further processing. We will work diligently with other Agencies of Government to apprehend all other cohorts and Death Merchants involved in this monkey business.
The Eight Containers whose contents were wrongly declared to evade duty payment and Prohibition Order are hereby declared seized.
The Licences and Permits issued for the operation of all the Warehouses and Terminals as well as those of their Customs Agents involved in these cases are hereby suspended pending the determination of their involvement.
Customs Officers who are found complicit in the perpetration of these nefarious act would be heavily sanctioned in a manner that would be approved by the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Officers who kept faith with the Oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and refused to be bribed into releasing these containers will be adequately rewarded in a manner provided by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The comptroller general, commend the professional commitment of the Customs Area Comptroller Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede and his Officers and Men, for the meticulous approach deployed to this operation. He also acknowledge the agency’s various partners, local and international, that provided the much needed information to successfully prosecute the operation.
He emphasized that “the seizure serves as a strong warning to others who may be contemplating similar misadventures, my message to them is simple; we will run you out of business. The Nigeria Customs Service, under my leadership, will not tolerate any action that compromises the economy and security of our beloved nation”.
Infact.. matter plenty
Seizure made in a bonded terminal in Onne.
Great story
Borno terrorist attack: President Tinubu vows to contain insurgency in Nigeria.
ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has condemned the suicide bomb attacks in Borno state and have vowed that Nigeria under his watch shall not subcum to era of blood, sorrow, tears, and fears.
The President also declared that those who carry out violent attacks in the country will face the wrath of the law as his government will not fold it arms and watch them go unpunished.
Reacting to the recent terrorist bomb attacks, which resulted in the loss of lives and the maiming of other citizens in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said that the cowardly attacks by terrorists and criminal elements are i…
This the way to go bro
Nice one
Niger Delta Development: Senator Dickson visits Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom,
Former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson was seen alongside former Niger-Delta militant High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
Seriake Dickson visited and paid a courtesy call on His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun the Second, Agadagba Aketekpe, Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, accompanied by other first-class Kings from Delta and Bayelsa. Tompolo, Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, joined them for the visit.
During the visit, cultural displays were held in honor of Dickson and his delegation. He expressed gratitude to the King, Tompolo, and others for fostering development, peace, and stability in the Niger Delta region.
Dickson emphasized the role of po…
Hunger dey here, as I no get work, came to Bayelsa to see the possibility of a dredging racket.
Nice move… something go show soon
