Customs intercepts containers with arms, ammunition in Lagos

The operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Port Command in Apapa have intercepted catches of arms and ammunition in two separate operations on July 9 and 10 respectively.

The intercepted containers were said to contain 416 rounds of different calibre live ammunition, 28 pieces of various sizes of Jack knives and one empty magazine. A suspect had also been arrested in connection with the seizures.

It was gathered that the first set of ammunition was discovered at the Terminal ‘C’ II (Ports and Cargos), when the 1 by 40 foot container No. TGHU 60143419 was being examined and found to contain 150 live ammunition and 25 jack knives.

According to the Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Musa Baba Abdullahi, who spoke on the seizures, ” On our discovery of the content of the container, it was immediately sent to the Enforcement Unit where it was examined and found to contain the ammunition and Jack knives.

These items contravenes schedule 4 Absolute import Prohibition list, item 17 of the common external tariff and section 46 of the Customs and excise management Act cap C45 IFN 2004.”

Speaking on the second container of ammunition intercepted on July 10, Abdullahi said the container was discovered using routine tally operations.

He said the ammunition were found while vehicles were being discharged from a vessel MV GLOVIS COURAGE Voyage No. 036.

The Controller said, “The second cache of ammunition were discovered at Star logistics terminal, a black bag was found in one unpacked Ford Edge with chassis No. 2FMDK48C98BA05947.

” On examination, the bag was found to contain 149 rounds of 38mm calibre Iive ammunition, 92 rounds of 9mm calibre live ammunition, 2 rounds of 7.62mm calibre live ammunition, 11 cartridges of live ammunition, 12 expended empty shells of various calibre and one empty magazine.”

The Controller revealed that the suspect, the containers and the exhibits are currently been detained at the enforcement station pending further investigation.