Barely three weeks after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted a container load of 1,100 pump action rifl es from Turkey, the Service yesterday displayed another consignment of 470 smuggled rifl es seized at Tincan Island Port, Lagos. Th e latest seizure brings the number of intercepted pump action rifl es to 2,671 within the last 8 months from Turkey. Following the seizure, the Customs Controller General, Colonel Hammed Ibrahim Ali (retd), said all customs operations across the country had been put on red alert.
Th e customs boss is scheduled to meet with the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria today to deliberate on the incessant illegal importation of arms into the country. Th e 470 pump action rifl es, according to the NCS, were imported by Great James and Oil Gas Limited with vessel tagged MV Arkas Africa, owned by Hull Blyth. Th e seizure, according to Ali, was narrowed to one container No. CMAU189817/8 after the terminal operator was quarantined where the examination revealed 470 pump action rifl es as against elbow plumbing plastics on its bill of lading. “We must rise up and remain vigilant to deal decisively with enemies of the nation.
Th e policy of reward for good deeds and punishment for those who compromise will continue in the Service under my leadership. “I call on well meaning Nigerians to support the Service by providing information that will help us perform even better”, Ali pleaded.
