The Tin Can Island Port command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has handed over the 440 pump action rifles seized by the command on Tuesday to the anti-smuggling arm of the NCS, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja Lagos.
Public Relations Officer of the command, Uche Ejesieme told SHIPS & PORTS DAILY yesterday that the arms were handed over following a directive from the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali.
“We had a directive from the CGC yesterday that we should invite the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) to come to the command and escort the consignment to FOU for safe keep. So as we speak, the consignment has left here (Tin can) to FOU for safe custody in line with the CGC directives.
He said after investigation is concluded, the arms and the suspect arrested in connection with the seizure will be handed over to the Department of State Security (DSS).
“Don’t forget Customs don’t work in isolation of other sister agencies. Ours is to intercept and after our preliminary investigation, the arms will be handed over to the appropriate authority that is the Department of State Services (DSS).
“We have a defendant, who is still in our facility and after conclusion of investigation; we will hand over the exhibit to the appropriate agency,” he said.
The NCS had on Tuesday intercepted a container load of 440 pump action rifles imported from Turkey at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Assistant Comptroller General of Customs Monday Abueh said that the import originated from Turkey and that the guns were concealed inside a 40-foot container laden with POP powder.
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