NCS Restrategises Operations, Says least FINE for Simple Infractions is N5m and above

Nigeria Customs Intercepts Arms, other Weapons,

... Arrests Suspect in Lagos 

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has intercepted a total of thirty-one (31) rifles and ammunition concealed in plastic drums and sacks of charcoal within the first two weeks of July 2023.

The Ag. Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, 17th July 2023. 

Comptroller Bashir stated that the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) in a joint operation with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security, DSS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while carrying out a 100% examination of a 1x40ft container on the 5th of July, 2023 at the Ports & Terminal Multiservices Limited, uncovered ten (10) dangerous arms and ammunition concealed inside a plastic drum.

The siezed items includes Three (3) new Pump Action Rifles and one new unit of an armed Rifle, Six (6) new different types of pistols including one new millennium G2 pistol; one (1) new sarsilmaz SAR-9X pistol; one (1) new Lugger Security-9 pistol; one (1) new Taurus Banbridge G3C pistol; one new SCCY CPX-2 pistol, and one (1) new Taurus (63 pistol). Others include fourteen (14) empty magazines and 442 rounds of live ammunition.

Comptroller Bashir also disclosed that the two suspects in connection with the seizure have been arrested.

His words, "The clearing agent, Mr Shokunbi Olanrewaju of Shooler Global International Limited and Mr Joseph Nwadiodor, who was expected to take delivery of the Container, are currently detained as suspects in connection with the seizure.

In a related development, the Tincan Island Port Command of the Service, while acting on credible intelligence has also subjected a 1x40ft container to 100% physical examination with the relevant security Agencies at the ports within the same period.

According to the Ag. CGC, the physical examination uncovered 18 arms, packets of cartridges and rounds of live ammunition inside plastic drums.

"6 different makes of pistols namely: two (2) Sar9 Sarsilmarz Pistols; one (1) Ruger American Pistol and three (3) Taurus G3c – Bainbridge Pistols); Twelve (12) different makes of riffles namely; five (5) Rz17hd Rifles; one (1) Gamo Rifle, five (5) Pump Action Rifles and one (1) Rz17 Tactical Rifle); Ten (10) packets of cartridges; Two (2) packets of 9mm ammunition; One hundred (100) rounds of 9mm Winchester ammunition. One (1) carton of Frontier cartridges and Two (2) packets of Buckshot ammunition.

“Again, during a routine Patrol along Owode/Ajilete Axis of Ogun State by Officers of the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, on Wednesday 12 July 2023, intercepted an unregistered Toyota Camry loaded with six sacks of charcoal, which was used to conceal three (3) pump action riffles with 174 live cartridges". The Customs Chief revealed. 

“The driver of the vehicle who knew the content he was conveying vis-a-vis the attendant consequences of his action before the law; jumped into the bush and escaped arrest". He noted. 

"Investigation into the seizures is inconclusive. The outcome of our investigations together with the seizures will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution". He added. 

He reiterated the services' resolve to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant traders. 

“Let me state at this point that the Service has re-strategized its operations, while our Officers have raised their levels of professionalism, we have re-injected new tactics to tackle the economic and security menace caused by recalcitrant importers and their agents. The Services' human resources and logistics are collectively harnessed to combat and prevent economic sabotage”, he said.

However, while fielding questions with journalists on punishment awaiting the arrested ones, the Customs Chief stated that the least fine for simple infractions(An infraction is the least serious offense in our criminal justice system) ranges from #5million upward and the Offence is high but will be subjected to periodic review. 

He implored importers and agents to be patriotic by making sincere declarations, and be properly guided by the import/export prohibition lists, while also urging the public to see security as a collective responsibility. 

“We will appreciate information of illegal importation and cross-border movement of dangerous weapons used to create mayhem in our nation”, he maintained.