Onne Port, Rivers State— The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a significant shipment of assorted arms and ammunition valued at approximately ₦13.9 billion.
The seizure occurred at the Onne Port in Rivers State and involved a 40-foot container originating from Turkey. The shipment had been under surveillance by the NCS from its point of departure.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed the details of the operation. The intercepted container, with the registration number MAEU165396, was found to contain 844 rifles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition. The arms were concealed among various items, including doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags, in an attempt to evade detection.
The specific contents of the shipment include:
1. 764 units of Tomahawk Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles
2. 10 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmakers Jojef Magnum Silver Pump Action Rifles
3. 50 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Double Barrel Rifles
4. 20 units of VC Verney Caron Gunmaker Single Barrel Rifles
5. Exclusive Series, Sterling High-Quality Live Ammunition 34g – 25 Plastic Shotgun Shells (70MM)
The duty-paid value of the container was estimated at ₦4,171,710,000.
Mr. Adeniyi emphasized the meticulous work of the Customs Service in tracking and eventually impounding the container when the importer attempted to bypass standard protocols. The successful interception underscores the NCS’s commitment to national security and its capability to prevent illegal arms from entering the country.
