Nigerian Customs Seizes 1,100 Illegal Pump Action Rifles Imported From Turkey

Operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service, Tin-Can Island Command have once again seized
about 1,100 pump action rifles, after busting a syndicate that smuggled weapons into the country.

During preliminary investigation, it was gathered that the 1,100 pump action rifles were loaded in a 20 foot container the gang shipped into the country.
The weapons were concealed inside a container which Bill of Laden indicated was conveying wash hand basins and were brought into the country from Turkey.

This is the third time between February and September 2017 that containers loaded with weapons will be intercepted by the Customs.
The first arrest was in February 2017, with the recovery of 661 pump action rifles, while the second was in May 2017 when 440 pump action rifles were discovered.

Confirming the seizure while briefing newsmen on Monday, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Colonel Hameed Ali (Rtd), said that the weapons were carefully concealed in a 1×20 feet container.

He added that a Customs officer suspected to have removed the seal of the container without following due process, as well as a clerk at the command had been arrested.

Ali explained that the container with number GESU 2555208, which was never listed for examination,  was discovered to have been positioned with other containers for examination.

On further observation, Ali disclosed that the seal on the container was discovered to have been broken, indicating that it was positioned for examination. Comptroller-General of Customs.
 “At this point, the container had to be immediately transferred to the Enforcement Unit.

“The declaration in the Bill of Lading indicated the content to be wash hand basins and water closets but thorough examination revealed that there were 600 Jojef Magnum Black Pump Action Rifles; 300 pieces of Jojef silver Pump Action Rifles and 200 pieces of Jojef Magnum Plastic Single Barrel Hunting Gun Pump Action rifles.

The container was conveyed in MV Bella Shuttle vessel of 01-01-2017”.

The Customs C-G noted that importation of the rifles at a time the nation is undergoing some security challenges, was an indication that “there are, indeed, some elements who do not believe in the unity, peace and well-being of Nigerians.”