Nigerian Customs Service Yesterday Seized 49 Boxes of Assault Rifles in Lagos (Photos)

Operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted 661 pieces of pump action ri­fles imported from China into the country.
They were concealed with steel doors in 40 boxes and oth­er goods, which were cleared by NCS personnel at the La­gos Port.
The NCS Comptroller-Gen­eral, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), told newsmen on Monday in Lagos that the Federal Opera­tions Unit, while on patrol, in­tercepted a marked truck with registration number BUG 265 XG conveying a 40ft container with number PONU/825914/3 along Mile 2-Apapa Road in La­gos.

Ali said that the truck was taken to FOU premises for physical examination where 49 boxes containing 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steel doors were discov­ered.
The NCS boss said the ri­fles were under absolute pro­hibition and declared their im­portation illegal.
He said: “Such deadly con­travention of the law is even more unacceptable, considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.

“Already, three suspects have been arrested in connec­tion with this illegal importa­tion,’’ Ali said.
He named the suspects as Mr. Oscan Okafor (the im­porter), Mr. Mahmud Haruna (a clearing agent), Mr. Sadique Mustapha (accompanying the consignment to its destination).
Ali said initially the con­signment was said to have orig­inated from Turkey, adding that there was a mix-up in the doc­uments which finally revealed that the consignment originat­ed from China.
“Investigations have already commenced and I have direct­ed that the dragnet should be wide enough to fish out all per­sons involved in the importa­tion and clearing of the con­signment”, Ali said.
He disclosed that Customs officers who were involved in the clearance of the containers were in the custody of Comp­troller, Mahmud Haruna of FOU Zone “A’’.