By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
A physical examination conducted by a joint team of security agencies has revealed the real contents of an imported container reported to have been laden with firearms and ammunition last week.
It would be recalled that the media space was at the weekend awash with
the report of a container Intercepted at the B2 Terminal of the Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, loaded with huge quantity of of firearms and ammunition.
The public relations officer of the command CSC Uche Ejiseme, who confirmed the interception however was silence on the true content saying information about it was sketchy.
He quickly added that further examination shall be conducted on the container on Monday 20th December, 2021 at the Enforcement Unit.
While revealing the outcome of the examination on Tuesday, Ejiseme disclosed that the container contained just one pistol, 100 pieces of 9mm live ammunition, 200 pieces of 70 mm ammunition and two empty pistol magazines.
He disclosed that the items were found concealed inside one of the bags containing used clothes.
The Tin Can Island Command image maker stated that the examination was carried out by a joint team comprising of the operatives of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS), Police, National Agency for Food,Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) Police Bomb Disposal Unit among others.
Other exhibits found in the container according to Ejiseme include four used Toyota vehicles viz:2005 lexus Rx 330,2009 Toyota sienna and two units of 2009 Toyota camry as well as undeclared 53 pcs of new 55″ LG Televisions and other goods.
He pointed out that the importation of pistol and live ammunition, listed on schedule 4 part 1(Absolute prohibitions), is a clear contravention of sections 46,47 and 161 of the customs & excise management Act cap c45 laws of the federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 as amended.
This was contained in a release titled” REPORT OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATION ON TRHU 8058369(1×40FT)”, issued by Ejiseme.
It reads, “The media and the public will recall that on Friday 17th December 2021 at exactly 1630hrs,our operatives stumbled on a container suspected to be carrying uncustomed goods with specific suspicion of it been pistols and some rounds of Ammunition.
(2)You will also recall that we had earlier stated that the nature of the suspected offending item and quantity was unknown since the container was immediately welded back on the instruction of the customs area controller,comptroller musa Abdullahi and transferred to the Customs Enforcement unit pending joint examination.
(3)On monday 20th December 2021,a joint physical examination comprising the Dss, police, nafdac, Son,bomb disposal etc was conducted which revealed the following:a)Four(4) used Toyota vehicles viz:2005 lexus Rx 330,2009 Toyota sienna and two(2) units of 2009 Toyota camry as well as undeclared 53 pcs of new 55″ LG Televisions and other goods..
However one (1)unit of Smith & wesson pistol of model SW40V OF 40SW CALIBRE ,Two(2) packs of 50pcs each of 9mm live ammunition totalling 100pcs , one(1) empty (expended)shell of 9mm ammunition and eight (8) packs of 25 pcs each of 70mm (totalling 200pcs) and two empty pistol magazines were found concealed inside one of bags containing used clothes..
The public is hereby notified that the importation of pistol and live ammunition is on schedule 4 part 1(Absolute prohibitions) and a clear contravention of sections 46,47 and 161 of the customs & excise management Act cap c45 laws of the federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 as amended..
Meanwhile the command had swiftly swung into action and a suspect was apprehended and kept in detention at the customs facility .
A thorough investigation will lead us to the masterminds of this illicit import for proper sanction as deterrence”.
The public relations officer of the command CSC Uche Ejiseme, who confirmed the interception however was silence on the true content saying information about it was sketchy.
He quickly added that further examination shall be conducted on the container on Monday 20th December, 2021 at the Enforcement Unit.
While revealing the outcome of the examination on Tuesday, Ejiseme disclosed that the container contained just one pistol, 100 pieces of 9mm live ammunition, 200 pieces of 70 mm ammunition and two empty pistol magazines.
He disclosed that the items were found concealed inside one of the bags containing used clothes.
The Tin Can Island Command image maker stated that the examination was carried out by a joint team comprising of the operatives of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS), Police, National Agency for Food,Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) Police Bomb Disposal Unit among others.
Other exhibits found in the container according to Ejiseme include four used Toyota vehicles viz:2005 lexus Rx 330,2009 Toyota sienna and two units of 2009 Toyota camry as well as undeclared 53 pcs of new 55″ LG Televisions and other goods.
He pointed out that the importation of pistol and live ammunition, listed on schedule 4 part 1(Absolute prohibitions), is a clear contravention of sections 46,47 and 161 of the customs & excise management Act cap c45 laws of the federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 as amended.
This was contained in a release titled” REPORT OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATION ON TRHU 8058369(1×40FT)”, issued by Ejiseme.
It reads, “The media and the public will recall that on Friday 17th December 2021 at exactly 1630hrs,our operatives stumbled on a container suspected to be carrying uncustomed goods with specific suspicion of it been pistols and some rounds of Ammunition.
(2)You will also recall that we had earlier stated that the nature of the suspected offending item and quantity was unknown since the container was immediately welded back on the instruction of the customs area controller,comptroller musa Abdullahi and transferred to the Customs Enforcement unit pending joint examination.
(3)On monday 20th December 2021,a joint physical examination comprising the Dss, police, nafdac, Son,bomb disposal etc was conducted which revealed the following:a)Four(4) used Toyota vehicles viz:2005 lexus Rx 330,2009 Toyota sienna and two(2) units of 2009 Toyota camry as well as undeclared 53 pcs of new 55″ LG Televisions and other goods..
However one (1)unit of Smith & wesson pistol of model SW40V OF 40SW CALIBRE ,Two(2) packs of 50pcs each of 9mm live ammunition totalling 100pcs , one(1) empty (expended)shell of 9mm ammunition and eight (8) packs of 25 pcs each of 70mm (totalling 200pcs) and two empty pistol magazines were found concealed inside one of bags containing used clothes..
The public is hereby notified that the importation of pistol and live ammunition is on schedule 4 part 1(Absolute prohibitions) and a clear contravention of sections 46,47 and 161 of the customs & excise management Act cap c45 laws of the federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 as amended..
Meanwhile the command had swiftly swung into action and a suspect was apprehended and kept in detention at the customs facility .
A thorough investigation will lead us to the masterminds of this illicit import for proper sanction as deterrence”.
