Nigeria Customs Seize 844 Rifles, 112,500 Ammunition Rounds At Rivers State’s Onne Port

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service Bashir Adeniyi revealed on Monday that the department has intercepted 844 rifles, 112,500 rounds of live ammunition and other illegal items at Onne Port in Rivers State.

The details of the interception were shared during a media briefing at Onne's Area 2 Command, where the seized items were officially declared and prepared for handover to the relevant authorities.

"Based on intelligence sharing, a 40-footer container with No MAEU-165396 which originated from Turkey was tracked based on some risk factors associated with its importation," Adeniyi said, Premium Times reported.

"The container laden with rifles and ammunition concealed in various items such as dolls, furniture and plumbing fittings was intercepted at a bonded terminal of the Onne Port on 21 June, 2024."

The container carrying rifles and ammunition had a declared value of over N4 billion in duties. Following the seizure, three suspects were in custody under a detention warrant, and an extensive investigation was going on to ensure all those involved in this illegal activity were prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Adeniyi announced that the rifles and ammunition would be handed over to Johnson Kokumo, the National Coordinator of Small Arms and Light Weapons and a retired deputy inspector general of police. Kokumo was present during the declaration of the seizure.

The customs chief also disclosed that they found another container worth N9.6 billion, comprising Tramadol, codeine and other illegal drugs, along with 720 bales of second-hand clothing valued at N144 million.

Kokumo spoke during the briefing and praised the NCS for achieving a significant milestone in enhancing safety and security. He emphasized that this success demonstrated effective collaboration among various law enforcement agencies, and assured that the customs agency remained committed to maintaining its efficient trade facilitation process without compromise.

"We are here to witness the taking over of small arms and light weapons intercepted by the vigilant and diligent customs officers at Onne port," he said. "This is an indication that we can achieve remarkable results when we work together."

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Major-General Adamu Laka, expressed worry about the persistent spread of small arms, drugs and money laundering throughout Nigeria. He assured that the federal government was prepared to allocate necessary resources to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the country.