The Nigerian Customs Services has successfully intercepted a 40ft container loaded with 844 assorted firearms, 12,500 rounds of ammunition, and a substantial quantity of drugs, including nine containers of codeine, at Onne Port, Rivers State. The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, presented the confiscated items to the media, revealing that the contraband was smuggled from Turkey, concealed among second-hand clothing.
Adeniyi detailed the meticulous operation, highlighting the international collaboration and intelligence efforts that tracked the container's journey. He noted the importer's attempt to evade detection by routing through a private bonded terminal. Upon thorough inspection on June 21, 2024, customs officers discovered the firearms and ammunition hidden among various household items.
In a related operation, customs officers seized another 8 by 40-foot container on June 22, 2024, which was in transit from a bonded terminal. This container was found to contain 1.5 million bottles of codeine cough syrup and 3.5 million tablets of tramadol, all with a combined duty-paid value of N9.6 billion.
Adeniyi confirmed that three suspects are currently in custody following the seizures, with a detention warrant obtained from a competent court. The total duty-paid value of the intercepted goods amounts to N13,915,710,000.00.
Key Points:
- 40ft container seized with 844 firearms and 12,500 rounds of ammunition.
- Nine containers of codeine and tramadol also intercepted.
- Total duty-paid value of seized goods: N13.9 billion.
- Items smuggled from Turkey, concealed among second-hand clothes and household items.
- Three suspects detained in connection with the seizures.
