How Customs intercepted riffles, ammunition valued at over N13bn – CG

The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a shipment of assorted arms and ammunition originating from Turkey and estimated to be worth about ₦4bn.

The Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, on Monday, revealed that the 40-feet container with registration number MAEU165396 originated from Türkiye and that the Service had it under surveillance all the way.

“Based on intelligence sharing, a 40-footer container with No MAEU- 165396 which originated from Turkey, was tracked based on some risk factors associated with its importation.

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“The container laden with riffles and ammunition concealed in various items such as dolls, furniture and plumbing fittings was intercepted at a bonded terminal of the Onne Port on June, 21, 2024.

“The intercepted container ladden with riffles and ammunition has a duty paid value of more than N4 billion.

The Service impounded the container when the importer attempted to circumvent protocol and on inspection it was discovered that the container had 844 units of rifles:

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 Bashir, the rifles and ammunition were concealed using various items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.

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The Comptroller General said the duty-paid value of the container was ₦4,171,710,000.

Three suspects have been arrested and are in custody while investigations are on to decipher the circumstances surrounding the shipment.

In another related development however, the Service also displayed eight 40-feet containers which 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).