The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Office of National Security Adviser to the President, has lauded the CG of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and CAC Mohammed Babandede, his team and other government agencies operating at Onne Seaport, on the seizures made by Nigeria Customs Service at Onne Command.
The commendation of the NSA to Mr. President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was made known as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) made a significant seizure of arms and ammunition at the Port Harcourt Area II Command in Onne, which was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi during a press conference at Onne, Rivers State, on July 1, 2024.
Presenting his address at the press briefing, CG Adeniyi said: “Acting on credible intelligence on June 21, 2024, Customs officers, while inspecting a suspicious 1×40-foot container from Turkey, found it to contain 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition.
“These items were concealed among doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags, with a total duty-paid value of ₦4,171,710,000.00.
“This interception underscores our commitment to national security and public safety. We remain vigilant and committed to our duty. Three suspects have been detained in connection with the seizure, with a thorough investigation underway to ensure all involved face legal consequences.”
The CGC further emphasised that on June 29, 2024, Customs officers intercepted eight 40-foot containers destined for a bonded warehouse from Onne Port, adding that those containers contained 1,050,000 bottles of CSC Cough Syrup with Codeine, 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol, and 720 bales of used clothes with the duty-paid value of ₦13,915,710,000.00.
CG Adeniyi further opined that: “These seizures result from our robust Risk Management System and collaboration with intelligence communities both locally and internationally. The container bearing the arms and ammunition will be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution. Licenses and permits of warehouses and terminals involved have been suspended, and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions,” Mr. Adeniyi stated.
Comptroller General Adeniyi in the meantime, commended the Customs Area Comptroller of Onne Port, Mohammed Babandede, and his team for their professionalism, as well as the crucial support from local and international partners, including other government agencies.
In the same vein, the CGC maintained that: “This seizure serves as a strong warning to others contemplating similar misadventures. We will run you out of business; the NCS continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the security of its citizens,” Adeniyi concluded.
Responding on the total value of arms and ammunition seized by Customs, the CG said that it would be appropriate for the government agency responsible for the control of small arms light weapons to evaluate the seized items after official handover and then give the required answer.
