Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR has been speaking on the mode of seizure of a large cache of arms and ammunitions, as well as other contraband items at the Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne Ports, in River State, saying the seizure was made possible through a robust risk management system and collaborations with the intelligence communities both locally and internationally.

The CG had while briefing newsmen in Onne, Monday, disclosed that the arms cache comprising 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition with duty paid value DPV of N4.2billion was concealed in a 40-foot container imported from Turkey.

The arms and ammunitions were concealed among doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags laden in a 40-foot container.

He however warned those still planning such illegal importation across the nation’s seaports and land borders to think twice as operatives of the service are combat- ready to detect and impound same and run them out of business in no distant time.

“These seizures result from our robust Risk Management System and collaboration with intelligence communities both locally and internationally. The container bearing the arms and ammunition will be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution. Licenses and permits of warehouses and terminals involved have been suspended, and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions.

“These seizures also serve as a strong warning to others contemplating similar misadventures. We will run you out of business; the NCS continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the security of its citizens”, he warned sternly.

Other seized items include 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine, 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol, and 720 bales of used clothes with a duty-paid value DPV of ₦13.9billion. They were loaded in eight units of 40-foot containers designated for a bonded terminal in Onne.

While giving a vivid illustration of how the items were intercepted and seized, the CG said: “Acting on credible intelligence on June 21, 2024, Customs officers, while inspecting a suspicious 1×40-foot container from Turkey, found it to contain 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition. These items were concealed among doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags, with a total duty-paid value of ₦4,171,710,000.00.

“Also on June 29, 2024, Customs officers intercepted eight 40-foot containers destined for a bonded warehouse from Onne Port, containing 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine, 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol, and 720 bales of used clothes with the duty-paid value of ₦13,915,710,000.00.

The Comptroller General commended the Customs Area Controller Onne Port, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, and his team for their professionalism. He also acknowledged the crucial support from local and international partners as well as other government agencies.