Again, Customs Uncovers Large Cache Of Ammunition

By YUSUF BABALOLA

Less than 48 hours after the Nigeria Customs Service impounded a truck loaded with over 200,000 live ammunition reportedly being smuggled into the country from Benin Republic, the Tin-Can Island Command of the NCS has intercepted another round of live ammunitions concealed in a vehicle and container at the Lagos Port.
In a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP by the spokesman of the command, Uche Ejiesieme, the operatives of the Service at Tincan Island Port intercepted the cache of ammunition in two separate operations on the 9th and 10th of July respectively.

According to him, the first incident at the Terminal ‘C’, involved 1 x 40ft container No. TGHU 60143419, which on scheduled examination was found to contain 150 rounds of live ammunition and jack knives while 149 rounds of 38mm calibre live ammunition, 92 rounds of 9mm calibre live ammunition, 2 rounds Of 7.62MM calibre live ammunition, 11 cartridges of live ammunition, 12 expenses empty shells of various calibers and one empty magazine were uncovered in another vehicle. He said: “Following this discovery, the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Musa Baba Abdulahi directed the transfer of the suspicious container to the Enforcement Unit, where it was examined and found to contain 150 rounds of Live Ammunition and Twenty-Eight (28) pieces of various sizes of Jack Knives.”

The PRO said the items contravenes schedule 4 Absolute Import Prohibition List item 17 of the Common External Tariff (CET) and Section 46 of the Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 LFN 2004. The container, a suspect and the exhibit are currently been held at the Enforcement Station pending further investigation.
In another related development, the Command during routine tally operations, while vehicles were being discharged from a vessel MV GLOVIS COURAGE VOYAGE NO. 036, at 0330hrs of 10th July 2018, at five star logistics terminal and a black bag was found in one unpacked Ford Edge with Chassis No. 2FMDK48C98BA05947.
“On examination, the bag was found to contain the following; 149 rounds of 38mm calibre live ammunition, 92 rounds of 9mm calibre live ammunition, 2 rounds of 7.62MM calibre live ammunition. Others are 11 cartridges of live ammunition, 12 expenses empty shells of various calibres and one empty magazine.”
He however disclosed that the vehicle and containers with suspects are currently in detention. “The vehicle and the exhibits are currently detained at the enforcement unit pending further investigation.”

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