Nigerian Customs discovers arms stock at Tin Can Island Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has found a stock of arms and ammunition imported into the country through the Tin Can Port in Apapa, Lagos. The stock of arms consists of 440 units of classified pump action guns brought in a 40-footer compartment tagged PONU210024/1 22G1.The guns which were originally from Turkey were concealed in the container of POP powder used for house ceiling.The arms seizure was the second in 2017 following an earlier operation in January when 661 units of pump action guns were retrieved in 49 boxes. With recurring importation of arms and ammunition into the country, national security is threatened.The Customs Coordinator in charge of Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General, Monday Abueh, at the Tin Can Island Command, said the arms container was discovered Monday night on account of intelligence report by the command.It was also confirmed a suspect has been arrested and the arms have been transferred to the enforcement unit of the customs for further inspection. “These are pump action rifles of various designs. Based on intelligence report, the Tin Can Island Customs under Controller Bashir Yussuf, was able to identify the container and intercept it. We discovered that they used POP powder to conceal the arms in order to beat the customs checks. “We have one defendant, but we don’t intend to detain him for long because of security reason. As of the consignee, we are still keeping the identity under wraps because investigations are still ongoing. We have about 440 pieces coming from Turkey,” Abueh recounted.Yusuf also confirmed that aside the 440 pieces of pump action magnum brand, body parts of the guns were included in the container.From his account, the arms seizure consists of 100 of Black Tornado Single Barrel Rifles; 50 pieces of Alter Pump Action Rifles; 215 pieces of Black Single Barrel Rifles; 75 pieces of Silver Magnum Single Barrel Rifles; 113 pieces of Arm Guard; 110 pieces of trigger; 107 pieces of Bridge Block; 164 pieces of Rifle Nozzle; 103 pieces of Arms Grips; 117 pieces of Assemble Butt and 22 pieces of Allen Keys; 516 pieces of 50kg bags of PoP cement.“We have other accessories in this container, several parts dismantled but definitely to be reassembled. Investigations will go deeper to know where the factory for arms assemblage is located in Nigeria.“Generally, anytime we have interceptions like this, it requires a lot of intelligence and profiling of importers. The 21st century calls for that, you don’t have to wait for things to start happening before you start working.“POP is a very safe item to conceal weapons because it is not injurious to anyone. It was an attempt to distract the customs attention, but whatever anyone may use, it will attract our attention.” Yusuf stated. Ports operators, Sifax Group has refuted claims that the arms were handled by  has denied reports that the arms were handled by its company, Ports & Cargo Terminal. Mr Muyiwa Akande, Corporate Affairs Manager of Sifax Group, said: “The attention of our management has been drawn to a false report being circulated by some online news media to the effect that a container load of arms was intercepted at a subsidiary of our company, Ports & Cargo Terminal, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.“The news report is totally false and misleading. We enjoin members of the press to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in the discharge of their duties in order to avoid misinforming the unsuspecting members of the public,” Akande said.However, President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Increase Uche opined that similar dangerous actions should be discouraged. He then charged security agencies to carry out detailed inquiry and bring the culprits to book.