By Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) attached to Tin Can Island Command, Lagos, on Friday, have intercepted a 1x40ft container containing arms.
This is just as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) also, on Friday, intercepted 64, 000 pump action gun cartridges and a new pump action gun in Anambra State.
It was learnt that the owner of the container laden with arms had earlier allegedly declared its content as plasma televisions, but customs officers later discovered they were cartons of guns.
The Public Relations Officer of the Tin Can Customs, Mr Uche Ejesieme, confirmed the development.
He said that the container of guns was discovered during a routine examination at terminal B2 (Vehicle) of the TICT.
“The officers intercepted a container loaded with weapons, but as we speak, what we have done as a command is that we have written to the terminal to evacuate the container immediately to enforcement unit for 100 per cent examination so that we can actually ascertain the quantity and other relevant information.
“So, as we speak, we expect the terminal to evacuate the container to the enforcement unit where we intend to strip it, and the quantity, names of people involved and other further information would be available,” he said.
He added that, in line with service protocol, the command would inform the Customs High Command in Abuja after the container had been thoroughly examined at the Enforcement Unit of the command.
“This is why we have not issued an official statement regarding the seizure.
“As we speak, we do not have full details of who is behind the import, country of import and the model of guns.
“All these will be made known at the end of investigations,” he added.
The lethal cartridges were discovered at a store located at Success Line, Marine Modern Market, Onitsha, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A statement on Friday by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, revealed that the discovery has led to the arrest of an arms dealer, 34-year-old Donatus Onyemachi Igwebudu, following a credible intelligence on drugs and arms deal in the location.
The NDLEA operatives, who were reinforced by soldiers, stormed the store on Wednesday and moved the arm and ammunition to the agency’s office in Awka.
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