Customs Seizes Five Pistols, 445 Rounds Of Live Ammunitions At Lagos Port
. Intercepts N4.279 Billion Contrabands
By Sulaimon Salau
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized some weapons including five pistols and 445 rounds of live ammunition and several empty pistol magazines at Lagos ports.
Controller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, while parading the items at the TinCan Island port in Lagos, said several illicit drugs were also intercepted.
He said the interception operations have brought to light a concerning trend wherein criminal networks engage in collaborative attempts to subvert the competency of the agencies tasked with mitigating the entry of such illicit substances.
“Our actions underscore the persistent challenges posed by sophisticated smuggling networks, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced cooperation and advanced strategies to fortify the nation’s borders and preserve the safety and security of its citizens” he said.
He listed the seized items to include: 65 packets of Colarado Indica weighing 32.5kg seized from 1X40FT Container No. UACU 534833/6 imported from Canada; 17 packets weighing 16.690kg confirmed to be Cocaine; 151 packets Colarado Indica weighing 107 kg; One piece Gen2 Air soft pistol with serial No. 471908; empty magazine; 49 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition; 197 rounds of 9mm live ammunition; precursor chemicals for the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine; 8bags weighing 25kg tartaric acid; 100kegs of unspecified substances seized from 1x40ft Container No. MSCU 458177/0 imported from Durban South Africa.
Others are: 40 packets weighing 39.7kg confirmed to be Cocaine; 1026 packets weighing 688.2kg confirmed to be Colarado Indica; Two pistols without serial numbers; one pistol with SerialNo. AZYSRA6YSO12101181; three empty magazines; 275 rounds of 5.5mm M16 Tavor live ammunition; Six rounds of 9mm blank ammunition seized from in 1x40ft container No. THRU 796807/1 imported from Durban South Africa.
Also seized are: 226 packets weighing 128kg confirmed to be Cannabis Indica seized from 1x40ft Container No.MEDU 785276/3 imported from Durban South Africa.
The summary of the seized substances is 56.39kg of Cocaine valued at N2,368,380,000, 955kg of Colorado Indica valued at 1,911,400,000, all with a street value of N4.279 Billion Naira. The summary of the weapons seized is 5 pistols and 445 rounds of live ammunition and several empty pistol magazines.
Adeniyi said the individuals linked to the seizures have not been disclosed as investigations into the criminal network are ongoing.
