This is of national interest. Importation of arms and ammunition fall under absolute prohibition importation. These are special items that require permits. As at the time of examination of this container, the agent was not able to produce a permit. We are in the era of securing Nigeria and anything coming into the country that borders on arms and ammunition are of national importance.”
Those were the stern words of the Comptroller of Customs, Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML), Tin-Can Island, Lagos, Mr. Tajudeen Olanrewaju. Olarenwaju angry that some importers had tried to pull the wool over his eyes and those of his men and attempted to smuggle arms and ammunition into the country, but on the other hand, he was happy with the interception of the illegal items by his officers, whom he had proudly described as eagle eyed and diligent.
The arms and ammunition were concealed in a container and came into the country from USA. According to him, the discovery would not have been possible but for the command’s intelligence and examination units.
The Comptroller said: “It shows diligence approach to examination by customs officers in this command. It becomes an issue to highlight how some importers bring arms and ammunition into this country.”
Olarenwaju said that the discovery of the items and arrest came after the Command’s intelligence Unit got wind of likely smuggling of arms and ammunition into the country. He said that since the intelligence report came, the command had been on the alert and this alertness had apparently paid off.
The Comptroller was said to have repeatedly vowed to hunt smugglers and smoke them out wherever they were, thus he was not handling this latest discovery with kid gloves. Incidentally, the clearing agents in charge of the container had been arrested, while Customs officer had already started hunting for the importer.
To show that the Command was not the taking the issue with levity, Olarenwaju revealed that the FBI would be involved in the investigation of the case. According to him, with the sort of security challenges bedevilling the country presently, the present discovery and arrest was not a child’s play.
He said: “Our main concern is that what would have happened if the man had succeeded and smuggled these items into the country? We want to constitute a monitoring system and know where the arms and ammunition were supposed to end and what they were supposed to be used for. That the importer did not declare the arms and ammunition in his document shows a criminal intent.”
Olanrewaju revealed that the clearing agency used to facilitate the clearing of the container was known as ‘Chimbudike Agency. The items found in the booth of the black Jeep in the container are: One Smith and Wesson short gun, one revolver, one Bushnell sniper rifle, model 710, 52 rounds of 38 calibres ammunition, 48 rounds of 9mm calibre and 38 rounds of 9.0mm calibre, together with two empty magazines.
Olanrewaju, who said the described the discovery of the arms and ammunition as extraordinary, added: “It was during the course of the examination that the prohibited items which were concealed inside the GMC jeep were recovered. Though, the importer is on the run, but the agent who presented document of the cargo for clearance was arrested immediately for not being able to produce government permit for the importation of fire arms into the country.”
The Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Steve Okonmah, who further spoke about the interception, explained: “On September, 16, 2013, at about 2.20pm our examination officers conducted 100 percent examination on container No. PONU 8071808, believed to be carrying one used 1999 GMC Jeep with chases No. 764650 and one used 2004 Chrysler 300 car with chases No. 629127. In the course of the examination, our officers discovered the undeclared items. And just as our CAC (Olarenwaju) had said, no permit was presented and nobody was authourised to bring such items into the country without permit. This discovery underlines the efficiency and alertness of the examination officers!”
Olarenwaju explained that the arms and ammunition would not be regarded as normal imports. “When we made this discovery, we suspended the clearance of these vehicles, which the agent had commenced clearance, especially since we found other items which were not declared in the vehicle. Usually, clearing agents represents importers. So it’s normal not to have the importer at the site of the terminus. But the person that represented the importer, the clearing agent is with us. He has made statement and we have commenced investigation.”
Olarenwaju maintained that this present success by his command, means Customs officer, especially along the borders should be alert. “The mode of concealment was very skilful, so much that it would have been difficult to detect the arms and ammunition, but it is to the credit of the officers of this command that inspected this car and were able to see the concealment. The document of the agent declared that the items in the container were vehicle and household items.” Sounding a note of warning to smugglers, Olarenwaju said: “It’s not easy to pass through the borders because the Nigerian Customs Officers are at alert and so smugglers should watch out!”
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