The Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island command, on
Tuesday seized a container-laden with 440 arms and ammunition of various sizes
and designs.
The zonal commander, Tin can Island command, Monday Abue,
while speaking after the exercise, said that the cargo was shipped from Turkey.
He disclosed that the consignment was declared as Plaster of
Paris by the importer.
According to him, the container with registration number
PONU 210024/1, was picked up based on intelligence report adding that
investigations were ongoing to unmask the importer.
He said the pump action rifles were manufactured in the
United States of America and Italy.
His words: “They are pump action rifles of various designs
and also the single barrel device that you are familiar with.
“Based on intelligence report, Controller Bashar identified
and intercepted the container. We discovered that they used POP to conceal the
importation.
“We have arrested one defendant but due to security reasons,
we don’t want to make it public for now because such information could hamper
investigations which are still ongoing.”
According to the ACG, the nation had been saved from another
round of problem that the rifles would have caused.
PRO of the command, Uche Eiesieme, listed the rifles seized
as 100 pieces of black tornado single barrel rifles, 75 pieces of silver magnum
single barrel rifles, 50 pieces of altar pump action rifles, 215 pieces of
black single barrel rifles among other accessories.
By Ameh Comrade Godwin
