PTML TERMINAL: Customs uncovers arms, ammunition cache in tokunbo jeep

The Port and Terminal Multi Services Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 138 rounds of live ammunition and two empty magazines allegedly concealed in one of two vehicles imported in a container.
The ammunition was accompanied by one Smith and Wessen shotgun, one revolver and one Bushnell sniper rifle.
Conducting journalists round the seizure yesterday, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Tajudeen Olanrewaju, said that the guns and ammunition, which were allegedly neatly concealed in a used 1999 model GMC jeep with chasis number 764650 and a used 2004 Chrysler car with chasis number 629127, where shipped into Nigeria from the United States of America (USA).
The guns and ammunition, according to Olanrewaju, were discovered by officers of the Command during physical examination of the container that bore the imported vehicles.
The CAC said that the consignee had declared that the container contained vehicles.

“On Monday, 16th September, 2013 during, 100 per cent physical examination of a container that contains vehicles, Customs officers in the command discovered arms and ammunition in the vehicle. Based on our security function, this arm and ammunition will not be regarded as normal import that will be allowed to go with the vehicle.
We suspected this and suspended the clearance of the vehicle which the agent had commenced, because we found other items that were not declared in the clearance form,” Olanrewaju said.
He noted that the consignee did not present any permit explaining that import of such falls under absolute prohibition list and if it must be imported, the consignee must have a permit to do so.
A suspect arrested in connection with the seizure, according to the CAC, is in Customs custody pending when investigation is concluded.



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