By Ola Kay
Operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service have confiscated eight containers loaded with arms and ammunition, contraband drugs and second handcloths, known as okrika, after apprehending three suspects in connection importations, clearings and import duty evasion, amounting to about N170. 7b
The Customs General of Customs,CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared this on Sunday at Onne Port, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a press briefing, affirming that investigations are ongoing, to ensure that person involved in the criminality face the full wrath of the law.
Appraising the efficient performance and alertness of the customs service nationwide, Adeniyi expressed confidence in men and officers of the service, emphasizing the importance of synergy among security agencies, for such a feat to be recorded.
The CGC said: “With our robust Risk Management System, we have always remained a step ahead of their moves. When these attempts revolve around revenue generation, our automated audit systems at different levels enable us to trace, track and recover the revenue. Also, when efforts are geared towards creating actions that will produce irreversible consequences on national security, our alert level is elevated to match the threats posed to us.”
He assured that necessary action will be taken against the culprits, explaining that, “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 riffles 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 Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons NCCSALW, under the office of the National Security Adviser NSA, for diligent investigation, and ultimately rigorous prosecution.
He vowed that the suspects arrested would be handed over to the Centre for further processing, assuring they will work diligently with other agencies of government, to apprehend all other cohorts and ‘Death Merchants’ involved in the monkey business.
“The eight containers whose contents were wrongly declared to evade duty payment and Prohibition Order are hereby declared seized.The Licences 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. Customs Officers who are found complicit in the perpetration of these nefarious act would be heavily sanctioned.”
IThe National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Maj. Gen A. E Laka, observed that the interception of the various weapons and ammunition, drugs and used clothing by the Nigerian Customs Service on the 21st of June 2024, in Onne Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was a great feat, which underscored the Federal government of Nigeria’s efforts at ridding the country of illicit weapons, leading to high level of insecurity in many parts of the nation.
The NSE observed that, “Research and experience have shown that, there is nexus between drug trafficking, smuggling of small arms, money laundering and human trafficking. This has rather created the need for synergy among all security agencies to combat the menace.
It is pertinent to state that the re-occurring proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country, continues to fuel various criminal activities as currently bei g witnessed in many parts of the country, with the resultant negative implications on national security, national development,” he submitted”
Ribadu cautioned that Nigerian citizens may not be able to reap the dividends of democracy, where insecurity prevailed, adding that the federal government through relevant ministries, departments, agencies will continue to commit the needed resources, to ensure a peaceful, stable and more prosperous nation in the interest of all.
Mallam Ribadu stated further that, “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed the National Security Adviser to commend the Nigerian Customs Service, for effectively discharging its mandate, in the overall interest of our country’s national security.
The successful interception of the weapons and drugs is a further proof of the agency’s determination to the activities of arms smugglers and drug traffickers.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator, National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Lighter Weapons, NCCSALW, Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG,rtd. Johnson Imokum, stated that the nation’s customs service could boast of best and unified actions to prevent any risk of diversional loss.
He said: “These cache which the NCCSALW is taking over today highlights the serious threat posed by illegal trafficking of arms and ammunition to our national security. The mandate of the NCCSALW includes the registration, marking, tracing, destruction of illicit small arms and weapons, collected for arms bearing agencies of government,such as the armed forces, the Nigerian Police, Customs Services, Nigerian Civil Defence Corp NSCDC, and other agencies.
It is a stack reminder of the challenges in the midst to ensure the safety and security of our dear nation. The mission of the centre is clear, to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit proliferation of of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
The cache of guns and ammunition, drugs and second hand clothes were later handed over to the appropriate agencies for necessary action.
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