The Nigerian Customs Service has intercepted a 40-foot container filled with various types of arms and nine containers loaded with codeine at Onne Port, Rivers State.
Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, showcased the seized weapons and drugs to journalists in Onne, Rivers State, on Monday, July 1. He revealed that the arms originated from Turkey and were concealed among used clothing.
Adeniyi stated, "We tracked its journey across continents and benefited from credible intelligence through collaboration with local, national, and international intelligence communities."
He added that the importer attempted to bypass customs procedures through a private bonded terminal. "On Friday, June 21, 2024, the suspicious container underwent a thorough physical examination. Inside, we found 844 assorted rifles and 12,500 rounds of live ammunition, hidden among items like doors, furniture fittings, and leather bags."
The duty paid value of the seized container is N4,171,710,000.
Adeniyi also reported that three suspects are in custody in connection with the seizures, detained under a warrant from a competent court.
Additionally, on Saturday, customs officers intercepted an 8 by 40-foot container transiting from a bonded terminal. Upon inspection, six containers were found to contain 1.5 million bottles of codeine cough syrup in 100ml sizes and 3.5 million tablets of tramadol in 5mg doses. The duty paid value of these containers is N9.6 billion.
Adeniyi concluded that the total duty paid value of the nine containers amounts to N13,915,710,000.
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