Customs seize container with ammunition, military wares at Tin Can Port

 

(Nigeria) The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has said on Monday in Lagos that it intercepted a container and a Toyota Vehicle that were filled with live ammunitions, military wares, two pump action rifles and 7,500 gun pellets which was allegedly imported from the United States of America.

Displaying the seized items while briefing newsmen, the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Customs, Mr. Yussuf Bashir,  said the containers were intercepted on November 29, based on suspicion of the enforcement unit of the command.

On examination, one of the containers with number MSCU718443-6 was said to have had a Nissan Armanda (20007 model) with chassis number 5NIAA08A69N709779 which was discovered to carry two powerful riffles; an Omini American Tactical rifle with number AR48634 and a Moasberg American pump action with number U648018.

In addition to these two rifles, Compt Yussuf said the customs equally discovered on examination in the same container; 3,500 pieces of premier Hollo point gun Pellets and another 4,000 pieces remier Hollo point Air Pellets,  26 packages of military already made foods, nine pieces of military bullet prove vest, one piece of military vest with rain prove, one piece of military gas mask with two peers of glasses, one piece of pistle pouch, one piece of rifle pouch and two peers of military boots.

Also, a vehicle, a used Toyota Corolla 2004 Model with Chassis number 2T1BR32E54C309841 was discovered with a magazine containing 10 live rounds of ammunition (Harnady 40 SW) while the vehicle was being discharged from the ship.

The customs already has a suspect, Mr. Christian Mbachi in custody in connection with the container.

The Customs boss told news men that the item and the suspect will be handed over to the Department of State Services, DSS, for further investigation.

He said that no suspect was had yet been arrested in connection with the items found in the vehicle but assured that investigation was going on and it would equally be handed over to the DSS.

Bashir said the military wares and the other items were under absolute prohibition according to customs laws.

He however, said that the container was importer by a Nigerian and classified as personal effects. Ordinarily, he said that personal effect containers do not attract any customs duty.

"The gas mask and the live ammunition could be used to cause real havoc, nobody knows what will happen during Christmas if all these should enter into the city. The ready to eat food shows that the owner is ready to hide several days without need for food.

"It's a matter of national security and we all must do all we can to safeguard this country of ours. If an individual is given a Nigerian passport to travel out and live under the umbrella of Nigeria and it's immunity, while coming home, rather than come home with machinery that can add value to the country he came with these.

"These items were found inside a personal effect container that government has graciously removed duty on. But you can see the way a Nigerian responded to that action by bringing in pump action and even a gas mask.

"Things like these are absolutely prohibited and should not be found in the custody of anyone who is not authorised, no green passport holder is allowed to purchase this on the open market. We will arrest anyone that tries to bring it in," he said.