Rivers as Customs intercepts container bearing 844 rifles, 112,500 live ammunitions

From Chris Eze, Port Harcourt

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Arms and ammunition seized by Customs Area 2 Onne Rivers State

The anxiety pervading in Rivers State over the political crisis in the state has heightened following huge cache of arms and ammunition intercepted by the Area 2 Customs Command, Onne.

Recall that only last week, a suspect was arrested after dynamite he was carrying exploded on him as he was in company of protesters matching in support of the Minister of FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike and 27 members of the State House of Assembly who are opposed to the government of Governor Sim Fubara.

There is also clamor for a state of emergency to be declared in the state in the heat of the political crisis.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who addressed journalists at the Onne Customs command on Monday said that the 1×40 foot container, with number MAEU165396 bearing the weapons originated from Turkey and was intercepted on Friday, 21 June, 2024.

The CG disclosed that after the container was subjected to thorough physical examination, 840 units of assorted rifles and 112,500 live ammunitions were found hidden inside other contents of the container.

He gave breakdown of the arms and ammunition hidden in the container as, 746 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 and Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g-25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM).

The CG said, “The rifles and ammunitions 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 (N4,171,710,000.00).

“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”

The Comptroller General further disclosed that another 8×40 foot container on transit to a bonded warehouse from Onne port was intercepted on 29 June, 2024. He gave the container numbers as, TCKU6879285, CMAU5985012, CMAU7515384, CMAU4297020, SEKU5488437, BMOU4363156, MRKU4616024 and MRSU3068928.

He said that six out of the eight containers were laden with 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine (100ml), 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol Tablets (5m g) with duty paid value of N9,600,000,000.00, adding that the remaining two containers were laden with 720 bales of used clothes with duty –paid value of N144,000,000.00.

On the whole, the CG said the total duty-paid value of the nine displayed containers is N13,915,710,000.00.

He added, “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 Center 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 Center 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”

He continued. “The eight containers whose contents were wrongly declared to evade duty payment and Prohibition Order are hereby declared seized; the licenses 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”

The CG said while Custom officers who kept faith with the oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and refused to be bribed into releasing the containers would be adequately rewarded, those who are found complicit would be heavily sanctioned in a manner that would be approved by the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He used the occasion to salute the Customs Area Comptroller, Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede and other partners who collaborated to ensure a successful prosecution of the operation, assuring that the Nigeria Customs Service under his watch would not tolerate any action that compromises the economy and security of the nation.

The arms and ammunition were later handed over to the National Coordinator, Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, (NCCSALW) , DIG Johnson Kokummo by the Customs Area Comptroller, Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede.