Nigeria Customs intercepts ammunition worth N13.9bn

The Nigeria Customs Service has arrested no fewer than three suspects linked with at least nine 40-feet containers intercepted after they were discovered to be laden with imported items banned by the Federal Government from gaining entrance into the country through the Rivers State Port.

Items discovered in the containers estimated to worth about ₦13.9 billion include arms and ammunition as well as illicit drugs and foreign-used clothes imported from Turkey.

A breakdown of the 844 assorted arms and 112,500 ammunition impounded from the suspects showed that 764 Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles; 10 VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles and 50 VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles.

Others were 20 VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles and Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM).

The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, displayed the intercepted weapons and drugs to journalists at Onne port, on Monday.

He stated that the law enforcement agency had been on the trail of the consignments after leaving Turkey.

Adeniyi revealed that the 40 feet container with registration number MAEU165396 originated in Türkiye with the importers aiming to bypass the Customs Officers at the ports.