…Confirms seizure of fresh 470 pump action rifles
Following the increasing number of arms illegally being imported into Nigeria from Turkey, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to have the first diplomatic meeting with the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria today to discuss how the trend could be contained.
The Comptroller -General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali who made this known while conducting journalists round a fresh batch of 470 pump action rifles seized by the service at the Tincan Island port in Lagos in Thursday the Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari had opened discussion on the issue at an international forum.
He said,”Fortunately enough, we have made an in road and I want to say here that tomorrow (today) by the grace of God, we will have the first diplomatic meeting. I will be meeting with the Ambassador of Turkey specifically on this issue because already, our President has discussed this issue at an international fora and they have been mandated to sit with us and let us find a way forward.
“So, like I promised you, steps are being taken beyond the shores of Nigeria because we must establish what is happening and why it is happening and how we can stop it”.
Ali who expressed sadness over the new trend stated that despite all the seizures that the service had made in the last eight months, the syndicates had not relented in their efforts to ensure that they bring in the arms into the country.
He noted that as promised, the service had developed a profile of most importantly, items coming from Turkey which prompted the Controller of the Tincan Island Port command, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar to insist on 100% examination adding that the result was the discovery of a fresh 470 arms concealed in elbow plumbing plastics declared on the bill of lading.
“So, it is an understatement to say we are being threatened and our findings have shown that this dastardly act is done by Nigerians. There are syndicates who are in Turkey who are manifesting this. We are yet to get to the bottom of the whole thing. Are these meant for commercial purposes? Are they meant to be given to the group of insurgents, agitators as they called themselves or kidnappers? That aspect of investigation is ongoing. I am sure the SSS and other agencies whose duty is to unearth this, will let us know what their findings are.
“But for us in the Nigeria Customs Service, we have developed a profile and I told you the last time we were here, we are going to escalate this issue beyond the borders of the Nigeria. But having identified this country of origin, we should not relent but to insist on making sure that we get to the point of why is this thing coming from one particular country”, he said.
Commenting on the fresh seizure, the Customs boss disclosed that a 20ft container with No. CMAU189817/8 was suspected and the terminal operator was directed to quarantine the flagged container for stricter analysis leading to the transfer of the container to the Enforcement unit where 100% examination revealed 470 pump action rifles as against elbow plumbing plastics on its bill of lading.
He gave the name of the importer of the container as Great James Oil and Gas Limited while the vessel that conveyed the cargo was given as MV Arkas Africa owned by Hull Blyth.
He maintained that since this container belonged to the same importer of the 1,100 rifles, the ongoing investigation would be reinvigorated to fish out all those directly or remotely connected with the imports.
“As our seaports become increasingly impenetrable, we suspect they may want to try other entry points, let me assure Nigerians that the Service is presently at critical alert following my directive to all Customs Area Controllers yesterday. We will do all in our powers to further secure this country”, he assured.
Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
