The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Port Command says it has intercepted guns and ammunition concealed in an imported used vehicle, and another sets of ammunition hidden in a container loaded with another used vehicle.
Bashar Yusuf, Customs Area Controller of the TICP command, who disclosed this to newsmen in the command yesterday, said that the command arrested a 2004 model of used Toyota Corolla car with the chasis number- 2D1BR32E54C309841, declared to be carrying magazine, but discovered to have concealed 10 pieces of rave rounds ammunition called HARNADY 40XW.
Yusuf, who disclosed that no suspect has been arrested in respect to the seizure, said that the seizure was discovered while discharging the vehicle from the vessel.
“We got a hint that there was a magazine in the vehicle and we isolated the vehicle to re-inspect it so as to ensure that there was no illegal content in the car. We will hand over the seizure to the Department of State Services (DSS) for custody and further investigation,” he added.
The Controller further disclosed that the command also intercepted a ‘personal effect’ container numbered MNCU 718443/6, said to be carrying a 2007 model of one used Nissan Armada with the chasis number 5NIAA08A69N709779.
Yusuf said that the container, which was brought from America, was also discovered to have concealed other illegal military items that could be used to cause security havoc if left in the hands of un-authorised persons.
The Customs boss listed the items to include -one Omini American Tactical riffle numbered AR48634; another riffle- one moasberg American pump action numbered U648018; an additional 3,500 pieces of premier gun pellet and another 4,000 pieces of gun pellet.
The container also had 26 packages of already-made-military-food; nine pieces of military bullet proof verse; a piece of military helmet; a piece of military gas mask; two pairs of glasses; two pairs of military booty and one piece of riffle paunch.
According to Yusuf, the container, which arrived on November 29, was examined on November 30, but the command delayed making the investigation report public in order to conclude its preliminary investigation.
While assuring Nigerians that the seizure and arrested suspect called ‘Mr. Christian Mbachu,’ would be handed over to the DSS, the Customs boss expressed worry over the rationale behind the importation of items with serious security risk into the country.
He lamented that Nigerians in Diaspora have failed to utilise the privilege provided in the importation of personal effects that original does not have import duty payment attached.
“Insecurity starts with the importation of guns and ammunition, and instead of these Nigerians to use their privileges to import machinery for food processing and production, which would grow the economy, they decided to import items with high security risk to human lives,” he added.
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