Customs Hands Over 3,897 Intercepted Rifles, Cartridges To NSA

 The Nigeria Customs Ser­vice (NCS) has handed over 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCO­SALW), an entity domiciled under the Office of the Na­tional Security Adviser (NSA).

The Comptroller Gen­eral of NCS, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, handed over the items at the Customs Fed­eral Operation Unit Zone “A” on Thursday, in Lagos.

Adeniyi said that they were seized in 2018 in three containers at the Tin Can Island Port.

He noted that hand-over ceremony demonstrated the NCS’s commitment to protecting national borders and maintaining public safety.

He added that the ser­vice would spare no re­source in hunting down, exposing, and prosecuting anyone who attempts to compromise the nation’s national security through arms trafficking.

The Customs boss ex­plained that the hando­ver of the weapons to the NCCSALW symbolised the service’s commitment to proper disposal of seized arms and highlighted its resolve to rid the nation of illegal weapons.

He commended the pro­fessionalism and courage of the NCS officers in­volved in the seizures, as well as the Forensics Unit for their role in securing convictions.

“Today’s handover en­compasses a total of 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges recovered from these operations, be­tween 2018 till date, total­ling 3,897.

“In May 2018, the service intercepted a significant cache of arms consisting of 440 pump action rifles and accessories, inge­niously concealed within 516 bags of Plaster of Par­is (POP) cement in a 1x20ft container with number PONU210024/1.

“This seizure coincided with heightened security challenges from armed bandits in the North-West and illegal arms prolifera­tion in the South-East.

“This reveals the link­age between transnational smuggling networks and our domestic security chal­lenges.

“Through sustained intelligence operations, we intercepted two ad­ditional containers – CMAU 189817/8 and GESU 255208/1 at Tin-Can Island Port, similarly concealing arms and ammunition among sanitary wares,” Adeniyi said.

He said that following the seizure, forensics were deployed to conduct de­tailed electronic analysis of Customs documentation and shipping records.

“Through established diplomatic channels, we partnered with the Minis­try of Foreign Affairs to en­gage the Turkish Embassy, leading to definitive identi­fication of the purchasing company.

“The investigation trail, supported by financial re­cords obtained through court orders, enabled us to establish the identities of those behind this illegal arms shipment.

“Through strategic in­ter-agency cooperation, particularly with the Of­fice of the Attorney Gen­eral of the Federation, we successfully prosecuted the case (Suit No: FH­C/L/339C/2018) before the Federal High Court in La­gos.

 “The defendants Great James Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeuwa Moses Christ, and Emeka Umeh Festus A.K.A (Amankwa) were convicted on eight count charges.

“This prosecution suc­cess reinforces the ser­vice’s zero-tolerance stance against arms trafficking and validates the effective­ness of our judicial collab­oration,” he added.

Adeniyi said that the successful prosecution of those involved in the illegal arms shipments reinforced the NCS’s zero-tolerance stance against arms traf­ficking.

He noted that the service would spare no resource in hunting down, exposing, and prosecuting anyone who attempts to compro­mise the national security through arms trafficking.

“We stand ready to de­ploy our full arsenal of in­telligence and enforcement capabilities to protect legit­imate trade while ensuring Nigeria’s security interests remain paramount,” he said.

In his remarks, the National Security Advis­er, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, while receiving the items said the Centre would take all necessary measures, in line with relevant conven­tions and best practices, to permanently remove these weapons from circulation.

Ribadu, represented by the NCCSALW’s Direc­tor-General, Mr Babatunde Kokumo, assured that the weapons would be treated in accordance with inter­national conventions, as Nigeria was a signatory to the ECOWAS convention.

The NSA noted that since its establishment in May 2021, the centre had spearheaded multi-stake­holder initiatives to curb the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weap­ons.

President Bola Tinubu had signed the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 into law on June 4 2024.

Ribadu said this swift legislative action under­scores the president’s un­wavering commitment to ensuring peace and tran­quility in the country and demonstrated the premium he placed on national secu­rity for all Nigerians.

The NSA said the presi­dent’s leadership and sup­port had mitigated threats such as terrorism, kidnap­ping, banditry, pipeline vandalism, and other chal­lenges to its national peace and stability in the country.

Ribadu commended all officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service for their loyalty and tire­less efforts, which led to achieving the critical in­terceptions.

“I also wish to appreci­ate the leadership of all other arms-bearing and security agencies for their dedicated cooperation as we continue to press for­ward.

“As we mark yet another milestone in our relentless fight against illicit small arms and light weapons, I urge all stakeholders to re­main vigilant and continue our collaborative efforts.

“Together, in our unified commitment, we can ensure that Nigeria remains resil­ient against the scourge of unlawful weaponry and that our communities are safe­guarded for future genera­tions,” he said.