By Oluwatosin Maliki
Nigeria Customs Service at Port-Harcourt 2 Area Command, has intercepted dangerous weapons shipped into the country, the operatives have handed over the arms and ammunition to the Nigerian Police.
The Command disclosed that the weapons were discovered at the Onne Port inside a vehicle that was shipped into the country from the United States of America.
While, showing newsmen around the seized containers, the Area Controller, Baba Imam, stated that the weapons were disguised and declared as household items, which were concealed inside the vehicle.
Imam said, “We have briefed you about pistol and 100 pieces of live ammunition brought in a container coming from United States purported to be a household effects. In the course of examination our diligent and committed operatives were instrumental to sighting and discovering this piece of arm and then the ammunitions”.
The Area Controller further noted that other banned items were seized by the operatives, which includes; used clothes, used vehicles cannabis, codeine among others.
He stated, “We have on display today a total number of 96 containers for violation and contravention of extant import laws. These containers are currently in a government warehouse. These seizures include used clothing, used tiles, used vehicles, special consignment of 76.9Kg special cannabis with marijuana, tomato paste, cough syrup with codeine and many other items”.
Meanwhile, Imam pointed out that the Command has already generated over 246 billion naira so far this year, 44 billion naira more than at this same period in 2022.
“The duty pay value of these nine containers stands at about 1.1 billion naira. Beyond these collaborative functions with government agencies and the seizures, also in the area of revenue generation and collection, this Command has generated a total of 246.2 billion naira from January to October 2023. This represents a significant increment of 44.1 billion naira,” Imam said.
In addition, the Controller assured that the Service will not relent in it’s efforts but rather continue to protect Nigerian citizens from contraband goods to the best of their ability.